Thanks to Paige Wilcox for the pictures
CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park University baseball team weathered an early storm – quite literally – to short-game the Concordia (IL) Cougars on Friday afternoon.
Concordia tagged North Park starter Ethan Sund for a pair of solo home runs in the first inning, and an RBI double in the second, but the All-Region righty would hold the advantage through the rest of his outing. In six innings of work, Sund punched out 14 Cougar hitters and allowed only those three early hits.
For the NPU offense, three Vikings had three-hit days: Justin Swanson (3-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI), Zach Lingk (3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI), and Reece Arakaki (3-for-4, 2 RBI). The Vikings scored a pair of runs in the second inning on a pair of wild pitches before taking the lead with a four-run fifth inning. In that fifth inning, Ranko Stevanovic drew a bases-loaded walk and Lingk cleared the bases on an infield single that was misplayed with a throw from the infield up the first base line.
North Park added a pair of runs in the sixth inning when Bobby Bartlett scored on a passed ball and Swanson scored on an infield error, holding a five-run lead at 8-3.
A seventh inning filled with big swings would complete the short-gaming. Swanson plated Cole Fiorenza and Carson Blatchford on a two-run triple before Lingk's opposite field double brought home Swanson. Next, Arakaki drew a walk to load the bases for Jim Zay. Not getting cheated at the plate, Zay hammered one over the right center field bleachers to walk off with a 10-run win in style.
FINAL: North Park 15, Concordia (IL) 3
Quick Hits:Â
- 14 K's and only three hits allowed for Sund's third win of the season
- Doubles for Swanson, Lingk (2), and Brad Maurer
- Swanson adds a triple
- Zay with a walkoff grand slam
- Vikings collect 15 hits, draw nine walks
What's Next?
North Park (6-9) will play the Cougars again next Monday, March 28, with a scheduled first pitch of 3pm.
