The North Park baseball team lost its bid for a win over a Division I program Wednesday night, falling just short 13-10 to Chicago State University.
North Park started the contest strong as it connected for four hits, and took advantage of two CSU errors to go ahead 5-1 in the first inning. Both junior Angel Carrasco and senior Nick Marino came up with run-scoring doubles in the frame.
Chicago State responded though to capture a 6-5 lead in the fourth when it posted five runs. The Cougars later added three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth and another two in the eighth.
North Park didn’t back down however. After coming in late in the game at right field, sophomore Devin Melecio led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple to center field. He later scored in a bases-loaded situation and two more runs crossed the plate on bases-loaded walks. The Vikings then had two chances to tie or even win the game, but CSU pitching sent the next two batters down in order.
Junior Wade Yunker finished strong at the plate for the Vikings as he went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Marino, making his first home start since sustaining an injury, drove in three runs.
North Park (20-10) resumes College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play Friday night at 7:30 p.m. when it takes on Illinois Wesleyan University as part of a three-game set with the Titans in Bloomington over the weekend. |
