PICTURED: Nate Simons
After scoring just 15 runs in their previous three games, the North Park Vikings matched that total in a 15-6 victory over Lakeland College Sunday in Fort Myers, Florida.
The Viking batters set the tone right away, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs in the top of the first. David Scholz singled and stole second, then after two were retired, five consecutive batters recorded hits: a run-scoring single by Tyler Woolbright, a double by James DeGeorge, a two-run single by Cam Adams, a double by Mitchell Jordan, and a two-run double by Nate Simons.
Jason Meger yielded a run in the bottom of the first to make it 5-1, but the Vikings responded in the second as DeGeorge walked with the bases loaded to drive in Alec Strachota. The Muskies threatened in the bottom of the third, but nice defensive play by second baseman Cullen Gilbertson cut down a Lakeland runner trying to advance to third.
North Park added to its lead with four runs in the fourth. An RBI single by DeGeorge drove in Woolbright, a two-run triple by Jordan scored DeGeorge and Adams, and an RBI single by Simons gave the Vikings a 10-1 lead.
The two teams traded scores in the sixth frame. DeGeorge singled in Woolbright and later scored himself on a single off the bat of Simons. Lakeland added a run on a double and a single, but Meger picked off a runner to end the inning to keep North Park in front, 12-2. Caleb Layden relieved Meger in the seventh and worked two perfect frames.
The Vikings wrapped up their scoring outburst with three more runs in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk to Scholz and a two-run single by Strachota. Lakeland took advantage of some wildness by reliever Sean Eder – two walks and a hit batsman – before Andy Robbins came in from the bullpen. Lakeland scored four times on two singles and two groundouts before Robbins finished the game by inducing a popup.
North Park's offense exploded for 20 hits – easily their highest total of the season – led by Simons (5-for-5, two doubles, four RBIs), Woolbright (3-for-5, three runs scored), and DeGeorge (3-for-5, three runs scored and three driven in). Jason Meger worked a solid six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while fanning five and walking none to earn his first victory of the season. Also noteworthy was the Viking defense, which handled 39 chances without an error. The Vikings (2-6) face Plymouth State tomorrow at Terry Park in Fort Myers.
