North Central College 10, UW-Stout 6
JOLIET, Ill. (February 23, 2020) - UW-Stout played 21st-ranked North Central College even for six-and-a-half innings, but the Cardinals broke loose for eight runs over the seventh and eighth innings went on to a 10-6 win Sunday at DuPage Medical Group Field.
North Central (3-0), who had scored a total of 28 runs the day before, took an early 1-0 led in the bottom of the first, but Stout (2-1) tied the game when
Danny Deis laid down a bunt to the pitcher to score
Ben Vanhove, who reached as the lead-off hitter with a double in the sixth inning.
The Cardinals took the lead back on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly.
Stout manufactured a run in the seventh inning to tie the score at 2-2.
Reid Akerman led off with a single, then moved to second on
Charlie Szykowny's sacrifice bunt. Akerman stole third, then came home on
Hunter Merrill's single up the middle.
The Cardinals ripped off five runs on six hits - including two triples that drove in three total runs - sending nine batters to the plate and took a 7-2 lead. The Cardinals added three more runs in the eighth on a three-run home run by Justin Rios.
Stout countered in the ninth inning, scoring four runs off six hits. Szykowny opened with a triple, his second of the game, then came home on
Kasey Bass' RBI single.
Ben Vanhove advanced Bass to second with a single and Bass came home on
Joel Thimsen's single. Deis drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice, this time with a sacrifice fly.
Kyle Hamilton plated Thimsen with an infield single to complete the scoring as Stout sent nine to the plate.
Jace Baumann got the start for Stout, but did not figure into the decision, going six innings, giving up two runs on five hits, leaving with the score tied.
Bret Lecheler made his collegiate debut and got saddled with the loss, surrendering four earned runs on three hits.
The Cardinals used seven different pitchers. The Cardinals' fourth pitcher, Patrick Schaefer, got the win, allowing one hit, but not runs in one-third inning.
Vanhove was 3 for 5 to lead Stout. Merrill was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Deis went 0 for 3 with two RBI. Szykowny was 2 for 3 with the two triples. For the weekend, Szykowny was 7 for 12 with three triples, a double, four RBI and two runs scored. Deis recorded five RBI on the weekend and Merrill had four.
Rob Marinec was 2 for 5 with two RBI for the Cardinals, Joe Rizzo was 2 for 4 with two RBI, Justin Rios was 2 for 3 with three RBI and three runs scored, and Jared Wojcik was 2 for 4.
The Blue Devils will be off until they travel to Fort Myers, Fla., March 16-21 to play five games.
