Elmhurst scored three runs in the seventh and seven in the eighth to turn a one-run game into a 15-5 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Elmhurst on Wednesday.
The Bluejays scored one in the third off starter Travis Boyer on a bases-loaded wild pitch. They tacked on three in the fourth on just one hit -- a double -- but took advantage of two walks and two Viking errors for a 4-0 lead. North Park got on the board in the fifth when Brian Staatz's sacrifice fly drove in Ryan Javech; the Vikes tied the score with three in the sixth. Nick Marino, Trevor Popp, and Wade Yunker connected for consecutive singles; Mike Domenick's sacrifice fly scored one, and Andy Athans' double plated two more.
Elmhurst regained the lead in their half of the sixth on a solo home run, then the floodgates opened in the seventh. Three straight singles, a sacrifice fly, and a double put the Bluejays up 8-4. In the eighth, they tallied seven runs on six hits and three walks. North Park managed just one more run as Popp came in on a double play.
North Park used five pitchers in the game, with reliever Alex Silverthorne (0-2) being charged with the loss. The Vikings (16-9, 5-3) look to exact some revenge in game two later this afternoon. |
