CHICAGO, Ill. — North Park University baseball earned a critical College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) doubleheader sweep of Augustana on Sunday at the Holmgren Athletic Complex, grinding out a 4-3 extra-inning win in Game 1 before controlling Game 2 with a 6-2 victory behind another strong pitching performance. The win keeps North Park in a position to control its own destiny in the race to CCIW gold.
Game 1: North Park 4, Augustana 3 (10 innings)
The opener developed into a pitching duel that featured little margin for error, with both teams trading runs in situational moments before North Park finally broke through in the bottom of the 10th.
North Park struck first in the opening inning when junior catcher Reyn Matsuzaki delivered a run-scoring single up the middle after sophomore shortstop Taylor Joseph reached base and moved into scoring position. Augustana answered in the second on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Theile, tying the game at one.
The Vikings reclaimed the lead in the third when sophomore first baseman John Greenwood lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home a run, then extended the advantage in the fourth as freshman third baseman Reyn Ikenaga reached on a fielder's choice, plating sophomore second baseman Kupono Akaka who led the inning off with his first career triple.
Despite managing limited hits, Augustana stayed within reach by manufacturing runs, including another sacrifice fly in the fifth off the bat of Charlie Bergin.
North Park starter Sam Jackson navigated traffic throughout his seven innings, using ground balls and strikeouts to prevent big innings while limiting Augustana to two runs. He scattered four hits and allowed just one extra-base hit in the outing. Augustana's Blake Nettleton matched him in a sensational outing, striking out 15 over nine innings and keeping North Park off the scoreboard after the fourth inning.
However, the visitors forced extra innings in the ninth when Theile connected for a solo home run just over the right field wall to knot things up at three apiece.
In the bottom of the 10th, North Park played small ball to perfection. A leadoff single by senior designated hitter Rylan Kawakami and a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt by Noa Fujitani put pressure on Augustana's bullpen. The bases would load up when senior center fielder Joe Perona was hit in a full count and a roped single to left field landed Joseph on first. Next, in a triumphant return to conference action, Greenwood lifted a fly ball deep enough up the left field line to plate Kawakami with the walkoff sac fly.
North Park closer Ethan Condit earned the win by retiring Augustana in order in the top of the 10th, giving NPU the game one win.
Game 2: North Park 6, Augustana 2
Momentum carried into the nightcap as North Park again dictated the game early and relied on strong work on the mound to keep the league's top hitting team down.
North Park scored in each of the first three innings, building a 4-0 lead. Perona sparked the offense at the top of the order, while run-scoring hits from Matsuzaki and Joseph kept Augie on the back foot.
Augustana broke through in the fourth inning with two runs, capitalizing on walks and a single up the middle by Theiele, but never fully regained control. North Park starter LeBaron Lee, Jr. settled after the inning, working six strong frames and limiting further damage. Lee navigated six innings in the eventual win, punching out five batters against just two earned runs.
The Vikings added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth, extending the lead thanks to a Greenwood RBI single and junior left fielder Rylan Li's single up the middle. Freshman right hander Jacob Titsworth enjoyed the second save of his career, punching out four while allowing just one hit in his three innings of shutout relief.
Top Performers
North Park
- John Greenwood — Walk-off sacrifice fly in Game 1; multiple RBI across the doubleheader
- Sam Jackson — 7 strong innings in Game 1, limiting Augustana to two runs
- Ethan Condit — Extra-inning win in Game 1 with a clean 10th inning
- LeBaron Lee, Jr. — Six innings of two-run baseball in Game 2
Augustana
- Ryan Theile — Home run in Game 1 to force extras
- Blake Nettleton — Dominant 15-strikeout outing in Game 1 despite no decision
- AJ Macak — Extra-base hit
What's Next?
North Park (19-12, 8-4 CCIW) continues a five-game stretch of home contests when it hosts Elmhurst University (10-21, 4-8) on Tuesday, April 21. First pitch in Chicago is set for 4:00 PM CT.
