WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Following a pair of off days, a refreshed North Park University baseball team topped the Cornell College Rams, 11-1, in a seven-inning mercy-rule win on Thursday afternoon.
After starter Ethan Sund blanked the Rams in the top of the first, the Vikings marked in their half of the frame. Junior center fielder Jared Cantu drew a leadoff walk and moved up on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of sophomore right fielder Logan Peters. Next, senior third baseman Justin Woolbright plated Cantu with an RBI single to center field.
Sund worked two more scoreless innings before the Vikings tacked on four runs in the third inning of the game, thanks to four hits and three errors from the Ram defense.
Cantu led the inning off with a double to left field and moved to third on Peters' single to center field. Next, senior shortstop Jake Reinhardt brought home Cantu with a single to center field. After Woolbright was hit by a pitch, Peters came home on a double play ball, senior left fielder Brandon Davis singled home freshman first baseman Bobby Bartlett, and Davis came home on an infield error.
Sund threw one more unscathed inning in the top of the fourth inning as the Vikings piled on the runs.
Once more, Cantu reached base to lead off the inning, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on Woolbright's run-scoring single into left field.
Moving to the fifth inning, sophomore designated hitter Ryan Moritsugu and sophomore catcher Nick Cecchi both drew walks before Cantu drove an RBI single into left field. Next, Peters drew a walk to load the bases for the red-hot bat of Reinhardt. Putting the game out of reach, Reinhardt ripped a shot beyond the left-field fence for a grand slam, giving the Vikings an 11-1 lead.
Sund did allow the aforementioned run in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly, but showcased his dominance throughout the game. The junior right hander totaled six innings of work, allowing only four hits while fanning seven Cornell batters.
Senior right hander Justin Gurtner closed out the game in the seventh inning – picking up a strikeout along the way – as the Vikings earned a mercy-rule win, 11-1.
FINAL: North Park 11, Cornell 1
Quick Hits:
- Reinhardt finished the day 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs and a homer
- Cantu, Woolbright, and Davis all added multi-hit days
- Cantu scored four times and Moritsugu swiped a base
- Sund earned his third win, tossing six innings while striking out seven hitters
- The Viking defense did not commit an error
What's Next?
North Park (5-6) faces Penn State - Abington Friday, March 13, at 4 p.m. EST.
