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Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Apr. 26, 2015 – Continuing to grind out wins in close games, the North Central College baseball team swept the series opening doubleheader over North Park University, 7-6 and 3-2 with a pair of thrilling two-out, walk-off wins on Senior Day.
 
In the opener with the score tied 6-6 with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bobby Smithstepped to the plate and lined a fly ball to right field where the Viking right-fielder almost made a diving play over his shoulder, but the ball popped out of his glove as he went to the ground allowing the game-winning run to score on the base hit.
 
Sing Fong and Sam Klein began the rally in the ninth, each drawing walks to lead off the inning.  After David Ricosacrificed the pair up a base and Jake Rone was intentionally walked, Smith's heroics captured the all important game one victory.
 
North Central (22-12, 13-4 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) trailed 6-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but managed to tie the score at six, plating a pair of unearned runs as a lead off error turned into two runs for the Cardinals.
 
Ben Krusen struggled to find his command on the mound, allowing six runs, five earned over five innings, striking out five and walking five, earning the no decision.
 
The Cardinal bullpen was outstanding in the opener, as Nick Anderson tossed a scoreless 3 2/3 innings and Jordan Van Dyck induced a foul out to right to the only batter he faced in the ninth, earning the victory.
 
Chris Hill paced the Cardinal offense in game one, finishing a homerun short of the cycle, while adding a pair of RBI and runs scored.  Zach Jarosz was 2-for-3 from the plate with a pair of runs batted in, while Joe Paparone also finished 2-for-3, adding a run scored and RBI.
 
In the nightcap, the Cardinals' trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but Richard Concialdi would come through on Senior Day with a two-out base hit, plating Fong and forcing extra frames.
 
In the bottom of the tenth, Klein would write his own Senior Day heroics, lining a two-out, game-winning RBI single to right center, after an 0-for-4 start to the game.  Klein extended his career-high hit streak to 18 games with the hit, while clinching the doubleheader sweep and keeping North Central atop the CCIW standings.
 
Bryan Polowy tossed eight strong innings in his start on the mound, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while striking out six and walking two. 
 
Van Dyck earned his second win in as many games, tossing two hitless innings, striking out a pair to improve to 3-1 on the season.
 
Sam Carius finished 3-for-5 from the dish in game two, scoring twice, while Paparone and Concialdi each added a pair of hits and a RBI.
 
North Park's Nate Simons was 5-fo-8 with two RBI and a run scored over the two games to lead the Viking offense.
 
North Central heads to North Park (16-19, 5-12 CCIW) tomorrow as the Cardinals look for the series sweep, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. at the Holmgren Complex.