WAUKESHA, Wis. — North Park dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Carroll University's Frame Park, falling 9-8 in a busy opener before Carroll controlled the second game, 11-1.
In game one, Carroll opened the scoring with a run in the first and added three more in the third on timely RBI singles by Evan Becker and Leo Matuga to take a 4-0 lead. North Park answered when sophomore designated hitter Taylor Joseph launched a solo home run in the fourth, and senior first baseman Enzo Vertucci followed with an opposite field, two-run shot in the fifth to pull the Vikings within one.
Carroll added single runs in the fifth and seventh before North Park tied the game in the eighth on a pinch-hit, two-run single from sophomore Braden Enomoto. Carroll responded immediately with a three-run bottom half, sparked by RBI hits from Joey Appino and Jimmy Williams. North Park rallied again in the ninth, scoring three on an Eli Johnson RBI single, a Joe Perona sacrifice fly, and a late run scored by pinch runner Luke Bellini, but Carroll held on for the 9-8 win, as the Pios' Chayche Schultz came in to strike out the final batter of the game.
Game Two belonged to the Pioneers from the middle innings on. After three scoreless frames, Carroll broke through with four runs in the fourth, highlighted by RBI singles from Evan Becker and Leo Matuga and aggressive baserunning (eight successful steals) that pushed across two more. Four additional runs came home in the fifth, including a two-run blast from Jimmy Williams. North Park's lone tally came in the seventh when junior catcher Reyn Matsuzaki doubled and sophomore right fielder Vinnie Marvucic brought him in with a groundout. Carroll added the daggers late, including a walkoff homer for Williams in the eighth, to finish off the 11-1 victory. Tyler Fredrick threw a complete game for Carroll, allowing only three hits, including only one hit through six innings.
Top Performers
North Park
Carroll
- Jimmy Williams: Multiple extra-base hits on the day, including two homers in Game 2
- Evan Becker: Three hits in each game; multiple stolen bases
- Leo Matuga: Three hits, three stolen bases (Game 2)
- Tyler Fredrick: Complete-game three-hitter (Game 2)
What's Next?
North Park (13-8, 3-2 CCIW) looks to get back in the win column against the Pios tomorrow, March 29, for a single game at Holmgren. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM CT.
