Box Score

North Park closed out its regular season schedule with a 16-9 win Sunday over North Central.  This was the make-up contest of last Sunday's game, which was postponed due to weather and field conditions.

The Cardinal scratched out an unearned run in the first against staring pitcher Travis Boyer on an error, a single, and a groundout, but the Vikings answered in the second with four runs, three of which were unearned.  Joel Bonnett and Vince Campanella hit one-out singles and Eric Sousanes was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Mike Coduto then singled in Bonnett and Campanella followed on a throwing error.  Ryan Javech connected on a two-out, two-run single for a 4-1 lead.

North Central would chip away at the deficit, scoring one in the third on a single and three walks, but reliever Alex Silverthorne recorded a strikeout and a groundout to halt that threat.  The Cardinals then put five runs across in the fourth to take a 7-4 lead with four hits, a walk, and a groundout against Silverthorne and reliever Jeff Davis. 

Bonnett launched a two-run homer to right center in the top of the fifth to pull the Vikings to within one run.  Davis did his part on the mound, retiring six straight batters in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Vikings then struck for two runs in the seventh: Joe Belmonte and Bonnett each singled and Sousanes worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Coduto then hit a two-run single to put North Park back on top, 8-7.  Davis strung together two more scoreless innings, allowing a pair of singles and a walk but using his defense to end each threat.

In the top of the ninth, the Vikings put together a big rally, scoring eight runs against three Cardinal relievers: Bonnett, Campanella, and Sousanes (singles); Coduto (two-run triple); Zak Worsley and Javech (singles), Javier Cardenas (walk); Scott Swiderek (two-run double); and Ty Gellinger and Jake Laffey (hit by pitch).  Reliever Johnny Larson worked a shaky ninth, allowing two runs on two hits and three hit batsmen, but a strikeout and a diving grab by third baseman Tom McGrath ended the game.

Davis (1-0) picked up his first win with 4 2/3 innings of relief, settling down after giving up three runs in his first inning of work.  At the plate, Coduto went 3-for-6 with five RBIs, Bonnett was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs scored, and Campanella finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI in his first career start.

The Vikings close out the regular season with a record of 32-12 overall and 14-7 in the conference.  They await word on which regional they will be assigned to as they embark on their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1990.