AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- North Park faced off against the Clarkson University Golden Knights on Friday night, winning the contest with a final score of 12-3. Sophomore starter Kevin Ayeski went eight innings in the win while junior center fielder Alex DiVito refused to come back down to earth with a 4-for-6 performance at the plate.
The Vikings started the game off with a walk from sophomore right fielder Joe Perona, before DiVito singled, and senior second baseman Justin Swanson was hit by a pitch. Next, junior shortstop Reece Arakaki broke the game open with a two-out single to center, scoring Perona and DiVito.
Ayeski toed the rubber for North Park, facing just three batters in the first. Clarkson was able to answer back after a leadoff double, advanced by a ground ball, and was knocked in with a sacrifice fly to right field.
North Park responded after a Swanson hit by pitch, junior left fielder Nate Sommerfeld single, and an RBI single by senior first baseman Bobby Bartlett to score Swanson. Sophomore designated hitter Carlos Martinez loaded the bases with a walk and junior catcher Gio Lucchetto singled through the left side to score Sommerfeld. Senior third baseman Ethan Raspolich grounded into a fielder's choice and Bartlett scored, putting the Vikings up 5-1 after three.
The Golden Knights scratched a run across after a leadoff double followed by an error put a man on third base. A fielder's choice traded a run for an out but Clarkson still trailed 5-2.
The Vikings loaded the bases with three walks to start the fifth. A strikeout and a play at the plate left North Park with bases loaded and two outs. Freshman Rylan Li picked up his first collegiate hit with a massive two-out, two-run double before DiVito followed up with an RBI single up the middle to score Li. Vikings took a 9-2 lead.
Clarkson was able to manufacture their third and final run of the game after a single through the left side and a two-out triple.
North Park tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the 8th. Arakaki reached on error and a Martinez bunt gave North Park first and second no outs. Lucchetto laid down a sac bunt and gave the Vikings two men in scoring position. Raspolich walked and DiVito cracked a two out double to score two more runs. A wild pitch scored Raspolich to cap off the inning.
Ayeski was relieved by sophomore Ethan Condit after going 8 innings, surrendering three runs, two earned, off eight hits while picking up 4 Ks. Condit closed out the game with shutout relief, striking out two while allowing just one hit.
The Vikings (8-6) play their last game in Florida against Beloit College tomorrow, March 16th, at Noon ET in Davenport, Florida.
