MONTGOMERY, AL -- North Park built its offense through three concentrated scoring bursts before Missiissippi University for Women surged late to claim the game, 11-7.
The Vikings struck first in the opening inning when senior Rylan Kawakami singled, stole second, and scored on an infield error, followed shortly by sophomore John Greenwood's RBI single that brought home junior Reyn Matsuzaki, giving North Park early momentum.
Their next push came in the third, initiated by senior Joe Perona's single and stolen base, followed by his advance to third on a failed pickoff. Matsuzaki then delivered a two-run homer, pushing the lead further. Singles from Greenwood and sophomore Vinnie Marvucic extended pressure before the inning closed.
North Park's biggest surge arrived in the fifth. After consecutive hits from Matsuzaki and Greenwood and a walk to Marvucic, sophomore Taylor Joseph ripped a bases-clearing triple, scoring all three runners and completing the team's final scoring run of the day.
Although North Park controlled the early and middle frames through those runs, MUW's late-inning rallies overtook the Vikings as scoring dried up over the final four innings.
Top Performers — North Park
- J. Greenwood — 5 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run
- R. Matsuzaki — 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs
- T. Joseph — 3-RBI triple, 1 hit, 2 walks
Top Performers — MUW
- E. Turbyfill — multi-hit game including a triple, 2 RBI
- Z. Johnson — multiple RBIs, including a key two-run single
- M. Windham — 3 hits, 2 runs scored
What's Next?
North Park (1-2) hosts a home opener next Saturday, February 21, welcoming UW-Oshkosh to the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
