CHICAGO, Ill. -- North Park completed a three-game sweep over CCIW foe Augustana College, winning the final game of the series 10-2. The win marks the first time since the 2010 season that North Park Baseball took all three games from the Rock Island squad.
Senior lefty Bobby Bartlett took the mound for the Vikings, making quick work of the Augustana hitters thanks to a flyout and an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, one of four double plays during this game, in the first inning.
North Park scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Freshman DH Reyn Matsuzaki ripped a double through the left side and advanced to third when junior catcher Gio Lucchetto reached on an error by the pitcher. Senior third baseman Ethan Raspolich put a ball on the ground, reaching on an RBI fielder's choice.
Bartlett continued to work efficiently through the fourth inning, facing just three batters.
Senior first baseman Garrett Bragg and Lucchetto drew full-count walks before Raspolich reached on an infield error to load the bases. Sophomore right fielder Joe Perona knocked in Bragg with a groundout to second base before junior center fielder Alex DiVito cranked a two-out double to right center, scoring Lucchetto and Raspolich.
DiVito picked up a stolen base before scoring on a balk as North Park vaulted ahead, 5-0.
Bartlett kept his shutout going through the 7th inning, concluding his day with 7.0 innings pitched, while scattering five hits and punching out four Augie hitters.
North Park grabbed two more runs in the bottom of the 7th after junior shortstop Reece Arakaki was hit by a pitch with two outs. Bragg moved him over with a single up the middle before Matsuzaki and Lucchetto drove back-to-back RBI singles.
Sophomore Ethan Condit took the mound in relief for North Park, getting two quick outs before a single, hit by pitch, and error in the outfield gave Augustana their first runs of the game. However, North Park still held the 7-2 advantage.
The Vikings scored three insurance runs in the 8th. DiVito wore a pitch before swiping second, bringing his total to 21 on the season. Swanson scored DiVito with a single to left center, advancing to second on the throw. Arakaki striped an RBI triple down the right-field line, bringing DiVito home with ease.
Bragg singled to left to give North Park a 10-2 lead and the eventual final score.
Condit slammed the door shut to finish out the conference sweep with a 4-6-3 double play ball.
North Park (17-7, 6-0 CCIW) heads to Decatur for a doubleheader against Millikin University on Saturday, April 13. Game one at Workman Family Field is set to start at 1:00 PM.
