North Park broke the 20-win plateau for the first time since 1992 as they completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Millikin Big Blue in an 8-6 victory on Sunday.
Millikin opened the game with a run on two hits off starter Jake Hollinsaid. North Park answered with three unearned runs in their half of the first: Trevor Popp led off with a three-base error and scored on a single by Wade Yunker. With two outs, Ryan Javech cracked a two-run homer to left - straight into the wind. The Vikings tacked on their fourth run in the second as Brian Staatz walked, Zach Deustcher singled, and consecutive groundouts to short by Mike Sommerfield and Popp drove in Staatz.
Millikin struck for three runs in the fourth on three hits, a hit batsman, and a groundout to tie the game. The Big Blue took the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, while Millikin starter Logan Bolton held the Vikings scoreless over four innings.
A defensive play in the top of the seventh may very well have shifted momentum to the Vikings. With two outs, Millikin’s Mike Maziarz hit a line drive to right. Wade Yunker fielded the ball on one bounce and fired a strike to first baseman Mike Domenick to turn a sure single into an out. North Park seized the momentum in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Deutscher smashed a solo home run off the roof of the press box in right center. Sommerfield singled and Popp dropped a perfect bunt for a hit - but Bolton threw the ball over the head of the first baseman, allowing Sommerfield to score the tying run and putting Popp on second. After Popp swiped third, Domenick lined a double to the right field corner for a 7-6 lead. Devin Melecio added a solo home run to right in the eighth for an insurance run.
Hollinsaid started the ninth with a groundout but walked the next batter and hit the following batter, so Coach Luke Johnson brought in lefty Nick Soldano to close out the game. A wild pitch moved the runners up, but Soldano struck out Blaise Sylvester and got Maziarz to fly out to Athans to end the threat and the game.
Deutscher led all hitters with a 3-for-4 effort, while Javech had two RBIs and Popp two runs scored. Hollinsaid (6-1) was credited with the win, and Soldano picked up his first career save.
North Park (20-9, 9-3) plays a non-conference home game on Wednesday at 7.30 PM against DI opponent Chicago State. They return to conference action on Friday night as they travel to Illinois Wesleyan for a crucial weekend series.
|
