CHICAGO, Ill. — Millikin Baseball swept a pair of games from North Park on Saturday afternoon with 3-2 and 9-5 wins over the Vikings.
Game 1 – Millikin 3, North Park 2
Millikin struck early in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning. After Ty Cribbett stole second, Carder Reich lined an RBI double down the left-field line to open the scoring, and Sam Bushur followed with a two-out RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0. The Big Blue added what proved to be the winning run in the second when Anderson Decker drove an RBI groundout to score Mick Niebrugge.
North Park starter Jackson Nuese settled in after the early damage, working eight innings and allowing just three runs while keeping the Big Blue off the board from the third through the ninth. Millikin starter Caleb Akins matched him, holding North Park scoreless through seven innings while working out of a handful of jams.
The Vikings finally broke through in the eighth inning. Senior center fielder Joe Perona and sophomore shortstop Taylor Joseph reached to start the frame before sophomore first baseman John Greenwood lopped an RBI single.
Moments later, junior catcher Reyn Matsuzaki delivered another RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2 and put the tying run in scoring position.
Millikin's bullpen answered, however, stranding the potential tying run and preserving the one-run win.
Game 2 – Millikin 9, North Park 5
Millikin's speed jumped out immediately in Game 2 as Leyton Ivers singled, stole second, then stole home in the first inning to give the Big Blue a 1-0 lead. After North Park responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Joseph's two-run single, Millikin seized control with a four-run third of its own. Kolby Koslofski delivered the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run single that pushed the visitors back in front.
North Park stayed within striking distance behind a strong offensive afternoon that included four hits from senior third baseman Eli Johnson and a pair of doubles from Matsuzaki, but Millikin continued to manufacture runs. The Big Blue added insurance in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings, capitalizing on North Park miscues in the outfield and some free passes.
Millikin starter Matthew Brummer earned the win with seven solid innings, striking out five while working through traffic most of the afternoon. North Park threatened again late with a two-run eighth inning, but Jayden McNaughton closed the door in relief to secure the two-game sweep.
Top Performers
Millikin
- Carder Reich: 4-for-8, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double, stolen base
- Kolby Koslofski: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 HBP (Game 2)
- Matthew Brummer: 7.0 IP, 12 H, 3 ER, 5 K (Game 2 win)
North Park
What's Next?
North Park (20-14, 9-6 CCIW) finishes the three-game series with Millikin (28-18, 14-5) in Decatur tomorrow, April 26. A win tomorrow keeps the Vikings in the hunt for a share of a league title while a loss gives the Big Blue full control of the outright gold. First pitch at Worman Family Field is set for 3:00 PM CT.
