CHICAGO, Ill. -- North Park baseball banged out 13 hits, including four for extra bases, and rode a split-game performance on the mound to secure a 9-4 homestanding win over the Wheaton Thunder on Tuesday night.
North Park (16-8, 6-2 CCIW) struck first after senior center fielder Joe Perona worked a leadoff walk and then swiped second and third to move into scoring position with no outs. Sophomore second baseman Kupono Akaka brought Perona home with a sacrifice fly to center for the game's first run. Next, sophomore shortstop Taylor Joseph followed with a single to center, and junior catcher Reyn Matsuzaki drove a first-pitch, two-run homer into the middle of the right field bleachers to make it 3-0 in the opening frame.
Wheaton (12-13, 5-4 CCIW) answered with a four-run second inning to take its only lead of the day. Nathan Hedlund singled and Caleb Kelley followed with a single to right field as the Thunder put two on with one out. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Wheaton scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3-1. A walk reloaded traffic and a passed ball brought home another run to make it 3-2. Jack Gill's RBI groundout tied the game, and Charlie Scofield's two-out RBI single down the left-field line pushed Wheaton in front, 4-3.
North Park responded in the third to tie the game. Matsuzaki doubled down the left-field line and later scored on junior left fielder Noa Fujitani's sacrifice fly to right, evening the score at 4-4.
From there, the Vikings' pitching and defense settled the middle innings.
North Park starter Sam Jackson worked five innings, allowing four runs (only one earned) while striking out five. Wheaton starter Jamin Van Grouw kept the game even into the middle frames, striking out six over 5.2 innings.
The game turned in the bottom of the sixth when North Park broke it open with four runs. After Fujitani was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch, senior third baseman Eli Johnson singled to center to bring home the go-ahead run. With two outs and after pitching changes, Perona drew a walk and Akaka walked to load the bases. Joseph then walked to force in a run, and Matsuzaki rolled a sharp ground ball nearly past a diving Charlie Scofield at first but legged out the single. A wild pitch plated another run and North Park carried an 8-4 lead out of the sixth.
On the mound, North Park's bullpen closed the door. Junior left hander Jason Schmierer entered in relief and threw the final four innings, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out six to earn the win.
North Park added its final run in the eighth. Perona doubled to right field, advanced to third on a balk, and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-4.
Top Performers
North Park
- Reyn Matsuzaki: 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Joe Perona: 3 R, 2B, 2 BB, HBP, 3 SB
- Now 2 away from tying NPU's career record
- Eli Johnson: 2-for-4, RBI, R
- Jason Schmierer: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 K
Wheaton
- Charlie Scofield: 2-for-4, RBI
- Nathan Hedlund: 1-for-2, 2 BB, R
- Jamin Van Grouw: 5.2 IP, 6 K
What's Next?
North Park steps out of conference action for a pair of games with the University of Dubuque. Game one will be played on Friday, April 10, at Holmgren before the Vikings head to Dan W. Runkle Field in Dubuque, Iowa on April 11. First pitch on Friday in Chicago is slated for 1:00 PM CT.
