CAROL STREAM, Ill. – The North Park University baseball team put up a five spot in the fifth inning to earn a come-from-behind win over Elmhurst University on Sunday night. The rescheduled game, played at Lee Pfund Stadium, showcased some timely hitting by the Viking offense and a 13-strikeout performance for Ethan Sund.
Elmhurst jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four innings of play thanks to singles by James and Raspolich, as well as a wild pitch and questionable bases loaded hit by pitch. However, the Vikings would crack their scoreless stretch in the fifth inning.
Alex DiVito got things going with a single to center field before Garrett Bragg was hit by a pitch. Next, now with two outs, Brad Maurer cranked a line drive single into right center field, scoring Bragg and DiVito. Keeping things moving, Reece Arakaki singled and Bobby Bartlett walked to load the bases. Coming up clutch, Justin Swanson drove a bases-clearing shot to the wall in right center field to put North Park up, 5-4.
The Vikings added one run in the sixth when Jim Zay singled home DiVito and two more runs in the eighth on a balk and Carson Blatchford's pinch-hit double to left center, scoring Logan Peters.
On the mound, Sund worked 6.1 innings of scoreless relief and allowed just five hits, striking out 13 batters along the way to earn his sixth win of the season.
Quick Hits:
- Two hits each for DiVito and Maurer
- Extra-base hits for Blatchford and Swanson in clutch spots
- 13 K's for Sund, who allowed no runs
- Errorless baseball for both teams
What's Next?
North Park (12-21, 5-9 CCIW) hosts its last home game of the season on Monday, May 2. First pitch is set for 6pm but tune in to VSN early for Senior Day!
