CHICAGO, Ill. -- In a tense pitching duel, North Park baseball clinched a hard-fought 3-2 victory over North Central, propelled by stellar pitching and timely offensive contributions. The Vikings move to 2-0 in the CCIW, remaining the last league team with an unblemished CCIW record.
Sophomore right hander Carlos Martinez took the mound for the Vikings, allowing just one base runner in the top of the first inning.
Junior center fielder Alex DiVito ignited the North Park offense with a one-out single to right field. Senior second baseman Justin Swanson followed him up with a double to right center, the first extra-base hit of the day for either side.
This set the stage for junior designated hitter Nate Sommerfeld to drive in the opening run with a sharp sac fly to center field, bringing in DiVito.
Martinez worked quickly through the Cardinal's order, maintained the one-run lead through five innings, and allowed just two hits while picking up five strikeouts on the hill.
Cardinal starter Elijah Hammond was working well, holding the Vikings to a lone run until DiVito picked up a two-out infield single. DiVito followed his single with a swipe of second and Swanson delivered with another two-out infield single.
Sommerfeld played hero again, knocking in the pair on a single to center field to put the Vikings ahead 3-0.
Sophomore right hander Zach Price relieved Martinez in the top of the sixth inning, allowing two runs before finishing out the inning.
North Central threatened again in the top of the seventh. Price allowed a pinch-hit single before sophomore right hander Ethan Condit, the Vikings' go-to reliever, took over. Condit navigated through the inning, securing a fly ball for out one before giving up a single to right field. North Central now had runners on first and second with one out before a groundout to junior shortstop Reece Arakaki got an out but moved the runners up a base. With runners in scoring position and two outs, Condit locked in and picked up a huge strikeout to end the inning.
North Park was unable to scratch another run across but this was no matter to Condit who closed out the game, earning his second save of the year through three innings of work and four strikeouts.
- Carlos Martinez improves his record to 2-1, tossing 5.0 IP, allowing 0 runs off 2 hits while striking out 5
- Ethan Condit grabs the 3 innings save while striking out 4
- Alex DiVito marks a 3-for-4 day, scoring 2 of the Vikings runs
- Justin Swanson goes 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored
- Nate Sommerfeld picks up all 3 RBIs on a 1-for-3 day
- NCC's Hammond fanned six in five innings of work
- Trey Roach was the top Cardinal hitter: 2-for-4 with a homer
North Park (13-7, 2-0 CCIW) heads to Rock Island this Saturday, April 6, to play a doubleheader against CCIW foe Augustana. Game one is set to begin at 1:00 pm.
