SAUGET, Ill. -- North Park Baseball used a fast start on offense and a dominant late-inning pitching effort to secure a 10-3 win over host Webster University on Sunday afternoon in Sauget, Illinois. The win marks the first Sauget sweep in program history, as Coach Luke Johnson's squad enjoyed consecutive wins over 15th-ranked UW-La Crosse, Buena Vista, and Webster.
The Vikings struck early in the first inning when senior center fielder Joe Perona opened the game by leaving the yard to right-center field, but had the misfortune of the should-be home run called back to a ground-rule double. However, this started a standout offensive performance that saw him finish 4-for-6 with two doubles, three runs scored and two stolen bases.
After sophomore first baseman John Greenwood drew the first of his five (not a typo) intentional walks, a balk advanced both runners. Moments later, junior catcher Reyn Matsuzaki reached on an error to drive in the game's first run, and another scored on a wild pitch to give North Park an immediate 2-0 advantage.
The Vikings broke the game open in the second inning. Sophomore right fielder Vinnie Marvucic led off the frame by homering to right center, freshman third baseman Justin Butcher walked, and sophomore second baseman Kupono Akaka advanced him with a groundout. Perona singled to move Butcher to third, and after another Greenwood intentional walk, Matsuzaki delivered a two-run single through the left side. A bases-loaded walk to junior left fielder Noa Fujitani brought home the inning's fourth run, extending the lead to 6-0.
Webster responded with single runs in the second, third and sixth innings, but North Park starter, junior left hander LeBaron Lee, Jr., repeatedly worked out of trouble. Though Webster collected 11 hits against him, Lee allowed just three runs (two earned) over 5.1 innings, using timely outs, a pickoff and steady strike throwing to limit the damage. The Gorloks threatened again in the sixth, scoring on an RBI single by Ethan Wielt, but Lee departed with North Park still in control.
From there, freshman right-hander Jacob Titsworth shut Webster down completely. Entering in the sixth with runners aboard, he stranded all three and proceeded to throw 3.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief, striking out two and retiring every batter he faced aside from one hit-by-pitch. Webster's offense, which had produced 11 hits earlier, could not muster anything against Titsworth.
North Park rebuilt and extended its lead in the seventh when Akaka was hit by a pitch and Perona singled. Both runners stole their next bases, setting up another run-scoring opportunity. After Greenwood's fifth intentional walk of the day, Matsuzaki came through again, lining a two-run single up the middle. Those RBIs gave him five for the game and pushed the Vikings' advantage to 8-3.
The Vikings added one more run in the ninth after Akaka walked, advanced on a wild pitch and scored when sophomore shortstop Taylor Joseph singled through the left side. North Park's pitching staff allowed no runs in the final three innings, preserving the win behind Titsworth's shutdown relief work for the save.
North Park's offense undoubtedly blossomed as well: the Vikings drew 10 walks, stole four bases and left 12 runners on base while still producing 10 runs. Webster recorded 11 hits but managed only three runs and stranded eight.
North Park
- Joe Perona: 4-for-6, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases
- Reyn Matsuzaki: 2-for-6, 5 RBI
- Vinnie Marvucic: 2-for-5, HR, 2 runs, RBI
- John Greenwood: 5 intentional walks, 2 runs
- LeBaron Lee, Jr.: 5.1 IP, 11 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 SO, win
- Jacob Titsworth: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO, SV
Webster
- Dalton Groves: 2-for-3, 2 runs, BB
- James Theodore: 2-for-5, RBI
- Jacob Charlson: 2-for-4
What's Next?
North Park (5-5) has a few days off before participating in the Central Florida Invitational beginning Thursday, March 12, against Mount Saint Mary College. First pitch at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Florida is set for 9:30 AM ET.
