HOOVER, Ala. / BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The North Park University baseball team played three games in Alabama this past weekend. The Vikings took one game against fellow Chicago team Dominican University but fell to Centre College and seventh-ranked Birmingham Southern College.
North Park's 8-4 extra innings win over Dominican opened the weekends' games on Saturday.
The Vikings struck first in the second inning as Bobby Bartlett was hit by a pitch before crossing the plate on Jim Zay's triple down the right field line. North Park added three more runs in the fourth inning. Justin Swanson and Bartlett reached base on free passes before Zay moved everyone up on a groundout. Next, in his first collegiate start, Carson Blatchford laced a two-run single into left-center field, putting NPU up 3-0. Reece Arakaki tacked on one more run when he scored Nick Cecchi on an RBI single up the middle.
Before the Vikings ran away with an easy win, Dominican tied everything up with a run in the sixth in eighth innings and two more in the ninth.
North Park put an end to their second extra-inning game of the season in the 11th thanks to a four-run inning. Ranko Stevanovic and Justin Swanson singled to start the inning. After Bartlett reached on a fielder's choice, Brad Maurer drew a bases-loaded, RBI walk. Next, Zay plated Swanson on a fielder's choice before Cecchi capped the scoring with an RBI single.
On the mound, Bartlett tossed 6.1 innings and struck out a career high 12 batters. The lefty allowed just four hits and one earned run in the Alabama outing. Garrett Bragg picked up his first career win, tossing 3.2 innings of relief while fanning seven batters as North Park secured a gritty 8-4 win.
The proceeding games against Centre and No. 7 Birmingham Southern did not favor North Park, with 13-2 and 11-3 losses, respectively.
Quick Hits:
- Arakaki with four hits over the weekend, including a double
- Four hits for Cecchi, two RBI
- Bartlett fans 12, Bragg secures win with seven K's over 3.2 innings
- Blatchford first career hit arrives in a big spot with two-run drive
- Double for Swanson, who also had three hits
- Logan Peters 3-for-4 against Centre
What's Next?
North Park (1-4) continues to travel, playing three games at Webster University in Sauget, Illinois this coming Saturday, March 5. The Vikings start with Benedictine University at 10 a.m. before facing host Webster University right after.