DECATUR, Ill. (Apr. 24, 2021) – In a huge College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) doubleheader with Millikin University on Saturday, the North Central College baseball team extended its winning streak to 11 games by taking both games of the twin bill at Workman Family Field by scores of 6-2 and 5-3.

Having to play from behind in game one, Millikin (19-7, 12-6 CCIW) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a pair of RBI-hits.

Jason Shanner then settled in to allow only two hits over the final eight innings, striking out 13 total batters, including the side in the bottom of the ninth, to earn the win in the complete game.

The Cardinal offense cut in to the 2-0 deficit with a run in the top of the second as Justin Rios stepped into his first homerun of the season, a solo blast to right to lead off the frame.

In the top of the fifth with runners on the corners and one way, Luke Lehnen plated the tying run in the form of Joe Rizzo on a fielder's choice, legging out the double play attempt at first.

Still tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth, Rios led off with a double to left center, before Paul Beverly followed suit two batters later with another double to left center, scoring what proved to be the game-winning run.

North Central (22-5, 16-3 CCIW) added two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth, as Michael Stoltz walked and Lehnen doubled ahead of Dom Listi who pulled a two-RBI triple down the right field line, capping the scoring 6-2.

Rios paced the offense with a 3-for-5 showing with two runs scored and a RBI in the opener, while Lehnen was 2-for-5 with a run and RBI.  Stoltz finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored, while Rizzo walked three times and Listi drove in a pair.

Just like in game one, Millikin struck first once again in the nightcap as a leadoff single ended up scoring on a sacrifice fly following a passed ball and sacrifice bunt.

The Big Blue lead was quickly evaporated however, as the Cardinals sent nine batters to the plate in the top half of the second to score five runs on four hits while taking advantage of a Millikin error.  Michael Davis singled through the left side to lead off the frame, followed by a hit by pitch from Beverly.  Rizzo then reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, allowing Davis to score on the play to even the score 1-1.

Following a pair of groundouts, the Cardinals generated some two-out magic as Lehnen came through with a huge two-out hit, singling up the middle to score both Beverly and Rizzo.  After Lehnen stole second, Listi lined his second triple in as many games to right center, easily scoring Lehnen, while Marinec legged out an infield single to score Listi and make the Big Blue pay for the error earlier in the inning and make it a 5-1 ballgame.

Meanwhile, Ryan Behling allowed just one more run over his next six innings after the first-inning unearned tally, earning the win while going seven strong with four punch outs.

Patrick Schaefer came on two finish the game, allowing a run in the ninth but locked down his third save of the season and the eighth of his career to move him into a tie for seventh all-time in program history.

Offensively, Listi finished 2-for-5 in game two with a run scored and RBI while reaching base in 22 straight games.  His second triple of the day ties the program's single-season record of eight set by Michael Mateja '19 in 2017, while his 11 career triples now rank fifth all-time in program history.

Lehnen added a 2-for-5 performance with two RBI and a run scored, while Marinec was 1-for-4 with a walk and RBI as five of the six Cardinal hits came from the top-three in the batting order.

The Cardinals are now 3-0 against Millikin this season who sits in third in the CCIW standings, going for the four-game season sweep tomorrow with first pitch at Zimmerman Stadium scheduled for 2 p.m.