BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – North Park Baseball got the help they needed on Saturday, as the Wheaton Thunder stole a game away from the Millikin Big Blue. All that was left was for the Vikings to take care of business in Bloomington. They did that and then some, as a 15-2 win in seven innings led NPU Baseball to a share of the 2024 CCIW title and hosting rights for the conference tournament.
The Vikings scored in all but two of their seven-inning, mercy-rule win. Senior designated hitter Garrett Bragg chopped an RBI infield single before junior shortstop Reece Arakaki drove in senior first baseman Bobby Bartlett and junior outfielder Alex DiVito with a two-run single to put NPU up, 3-0, in the first.
On the hill for NPU, sophomore Kevin Ayeski had one of his best CCIW outings of the season. The righty tossed all seven innings, allowing just two runs while punching out four as the Vikings put this game out of reach early.
Sophomore outfielder Joe Perona doubled home a pair of runners in the third while an RBI single from Bartlett, bases loaded walk by sophomore third baseman Carlos Martinez, and sac fly by senior second baseman Justin Swanson put NPU ahead 8-0.
One of the biggest swings was delivered in the fifth when Swanson put North Park ahead by double digits on a three-run homer.
The Titans manufactured a run in the sixth and seven innings, but this one was long over. North Park dogpiled at Horenberger Field when the final flyout was secured in the seventh, celebrating a CCIW title and looking forward to more games to be played at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
- Perona 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored
- Bragg, Nate Sommerfeld, Reyn Matsuzaki, and Martinez all with 2-for days
- Martinez scores four times, Swanson homers to drive in five
- Ayeski with the win: 7 IP, 4 K's 2 ER
North Park (28-11, 16-4 CCIW) keeps going on a busy weekend schedule to play 18th-ranked Benedictine tomorrow, May 5, on the road. The game against the Eagles is the final regular season contest for NPU before hosting the CCIW Tournament beginning on Wednesday, May 8.
