Thanks to Paige Wilcox for the pictures

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Thanks to six hits by Viking freshmen and a six-inning, eight-strikeout performance by Bobby Bartlett, the North Park University baseball team took down the Wheaton College Thunder, 6-3, in 11 innings. The Vikings start the 2022 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) 2-0 for the first time since their historic playoff run in 2012.

The Vikings got their bats hot right away. Logan Peters chopped a single to the right side of the infield before Justin Swanson drew a walk. Both runners would move up a spot when Ranko Stevanovic put them both into scoring position on a groundout. Now, with two outs and in a two-strike count, Nathan Sommerfeld skipped a single up the middle to plate both runners and give NPU a 2-0 lead.

North Park tacked on one more in the third inning on Alex DiVito's single and a throwing error, keeping the Vikings ahead at 3-0.

On the hill, starter Bobby Bartlett turned in his best start against a CCIW opponent this season. He worked six innings, struck out eight batters, and allowed just two runs before handing the game over to the bullpen.

Wheaton put its first run on the board in the sixth inning on Haggerty's RBI single to left field. The Thunder added another in the seventh on an RBI single down the left field line and then things got interesting.

In the ninth, following six scoreless trips to the plate for North Park, the Thunder manufactured a two-out rally of their own. After Wheaton's Diel singled to center field to start the inning off, reliever Tyler Banks secured two quick outs with a popped-up bunt and swinging strikeout. However, back-to-back singles knotted everything up at 3-3, forcing extra innings.

Following a scoreless 10th inning, the North Park bats would come alive in the 11th.

Brad Maurer was the first Viking to reach base in extras, driving a single into left field. Next, Reece Arakaki single via the bunt and Peters reached on another infield single to load the bases. Swanson, who has come through in the clutch many times this season, continued with that trend, singling home Maurer for the first run of the inning. 

Following a pitching change, Stevanovic kept things moving with an RBI single of his own and Sommerfeld, who already had two RBI on the day, added his third with a single into left. With a three-run lead, reliever Julian Ledezma kept the ball for the final inning of work. Ledezma got the first out when Arakaki's diving effort on a would-be single up the middle turned into big-time play, nabbing the runner at first. Ledbetter would reach on a single, but Ledezma got a two-for-one deal three pitches later on a 6-3 double play, securing a 6-3 win for North Park.

Quick Hits:

• Vikings slug 13 singles, freshmen account for six of them
• DiVito leads the Vikings with a 3-for-4 day
• Peters, Stevanovic, Sommerfeld all with two hits
• Bartlett works six innings, strikes out eight, and gives up just two runs
• Ledezma gets the short-work win, allowing only one hit
• Vikings start CCIW playoffs 2-0 for first time since 2012

What's Next?

On Friday, May 13, North Park (16-23) will face the winner of the Millikin/Augustana game. First pitch for game eight of the 2022 CCIW Tournament will be 3pm back at Zimmerman Stadium.