NAPERVILLE, Ill. –The North Park University baseball team chipped away in the late innings of day two of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) tournament on Thursday afternoon, earning a 6-5 win over eighth-seeded Wheaton College.
Through the first six innings of the ballgame, the Vikings couldn't figure out Wheaton starter Sam Arnold. The Thunder right hander allowed just three hits and an unearned run, while the Vikings surrendered four runs on 13 hits in the first two-thirds of the game.
However, the momentum shifted in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Junior right fielder Logan Peters drew a walk and stole second base to begin the inning. Next, a warning track flyout to right field off the bat of senior shortstop Jake Reinhardt moved Peters up to third and senior third baseman Ranko Stevanovic laced a one through the left side of the infield for an RBI single. North Park capped the scoring on a bases-loaded walk by sophomore designated hitter Jim Zay, scoring senior first baseman Justin Woolbright, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
Wheaton added one more run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Stanton in the eighth, but the Vikings would get the run back in their half of the inning.
Once more, Peters drew a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Now with first base open, Wheaton elected to give CCIW Hitter of the Year, Jake Reinhardt, a free pass via the intentional walk. With two outs, Woolbright drilled a two-strike pitch into center field, plating Peters from second base, to close the gap to one run.
Peters, who relieved junior lefty Brett Brueske in the eighth inning, allowed just one hit in the eighth and ninth innings as the Vikings had one more trip to the plate upcoming.
Senior left fielder Brandon Davis got things started with a walk before pinch hitter Brad Maurer was hit by a pitch. Next, freshman catcher Conner Woods dropped down a perfect bunt for a hit up the third base line to load the bases for Cantu. Cantu laid off a few close pitches, drawing the bases-loaded walk to tie the game. Delivering the final blow of the game, Peters cracked the first pitch he saw over the Wheaton left fielder's head for a walk-off single as the Vikings advanced to day three of the CCIW tournament.
FINAL: North Park 6, Wheaton 5
Quick Hits:
- Peters reached base four times, earned the win on the mound, and smacked the walk-off hit to seal the deal
- Woods and Reinhardt add multi-hit days
- Reinhardt drove the lone extra-base hit and swiped a pair of bases
- Junior Brendan Russ and Brueske both featured quality, short relief appearances
- North Park was on the receiving end of 19 free passes (10 walks, four errors, five batters hit by a pitch)
What's Next?
North Park (18-22) advances to the third day of the CCIW tournament and will face second-seeded Augustana College tomorrow, May 21. First pitch at Zimmerman Stadium will be 11 a.m.
