WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – North Park baseball got back to .500 in their first Florida game on Saturday afternoon. After trailing 4-1 after two innings, North Park mounted a comeback to take down Gordon College 11-5.

Things looked bleak early after a three-run first inning, featuring a double to right-centerfield by Hartman, led to an early lead for the Fighting Scots. North Park started a two-out charge in their half of the inning when senior second baseman Justin Swanson, junior left fielder Nate Sommerfeld, and junior catcher Gio Lucchetto all singled. However,  a groundout ended the inning.

A solo homer for Gordon's Kazlauska started the second inning but would prove to be the only run. North Park was blanked in the second but were preparing a response.

Junior center fielder Alex DiVito double to right-center and moved up to third on Swanson's flyout to right. A Sommerfeld single to left-center plated DiVito, closing the gap to 4-1.

North Park starter Kevin Ayeski settled in during his third and fourth inning shifts on the mound, posting a pair of three-up-three-downs.

The Vikings let loose in the fourth inning, rattling off five runs off five hits and a pair of walks. Junior shortstop Reece Arakaki led off the inning with a single to center before sophomore designated hitter Carlos Martinez doubled him home on a drive to right-center. Senior first baseman Garrett Bragg brought Martinez home on a single up the middle and senior third baseman Ethan Raspolich returned the favor with an oppo RBI single to right. Sophomore right fielder Joe Perona drew a walk to load the bases and Bragg would later score on a wild pitch. Swanson loaded the bases once more on a walk before Sommerfeld brought two runs home on a slap to right-center, concluding the NPU scoring for the inning with a 6-4 lead.

Ayeski continued to work the Gordon hitters, scattering three hits all the way through the seventh inning. Meanwhile, Sommerfled brought Swanson home once more in the sixth inning on an RBI single before Arakaki's squeeze bunt brought in another run – 8-4 North Park.

The Vikings continued to pile on, causing chaos on the bases with five more steals and triples from Martinez and Perona. In total, North Park drove 16 hits, drew four walks, and struck out just four times in their 11-5 Florida opener.

Sophomore right hander Ethan Condit relieved Ayeski in the eighth inning, allowing just two hits and a run in his two innings of work.

• Ayeski: 7 IP, 6 K's, 4 ER
• Sommerfeld 4-for-5 with 4 RBI and two stolen bases
• DiVito (2-for-5), Martinez (3-for-5), and Bragg (2-for-4) all with multi-hit games
• Errorless baseball for the NPU defense

North Park (5-5) will face Suffolk University tomorrow, March 10, at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg, Florida. First pitch is set for 10:00 AM ET.