Box Score
NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Starter
Connor Berek (Riverside-Brookfield HS, Brookfield., Ill.) went eight strong innings and Augustana got nine hits from the second, third and cleanup slots Sunday to defeat North Central 7-4 at Zimmerman Stadium. The Vikings improved to 23-11-1 on the season and 12-7 in the CCIW, while the host Cardinals dropped to 25-9 overall and 15-4 in the league.
Senior lefty Connor Berek gave up no
earned runs in an eight-inning effort
Sunday, as Augustana defeated North
Central 7-4 in Naperville, Illinois.
North Central took an early lead with three unearned runs in the bottom of the second. Jeremy Quade's two-run single was the big hit.
Coach
Greg Wallace's club cut into the deficit with a pair of runs in the fourth.
Tyler Nunez (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) led off with a single and moved to third on
Ryan Grannemann's (McHenry West HS, McHenry, Ill.) double to left.
Mitchell Owens (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) and
Gunnar Haskins (Alleman HS, Moline, Ill.) followed with consecutive singles that plated Nunez and Grannemann, respectively.
While Berek settled in, Augustana gave him a 5-3 lead with three runs in the fifth.
Ryan Kairis (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) got things started by drawing a two-out walk. Nunez singled and moved to second on a failed attempt to cut down the lead runner. Granneman's single to left center scored both runners to put the Vikings on top. He moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Owens' RBI single to center.
Augustana stretch the lead to 7-3 in the seventh, as Grannemann and Owens each had an RBI single.
Berek allowed just three hits after the second inning and retired the Cardinals in order in the eighth before exiting in favor of
John Hayes (Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.) to start the ninth. North Central tallied another unearned run, but Hayes closed things out, leaving a pair of runners stranded.
Berek allowed seven hits and three runs, all unearned. The senior southpaw walked three, fanned four and got the win to improve to 3-2 on the year. North Central starter Jason Shanner went 4 2/3 and suffered his first loss in five decisions.
Nunez, Grannemann and Owens each had three of the Vikings' 12 hits. Grannemann and Owens drove in three runs apiece. Nunez scored three times and Kairis and Granneman twice each.
Augustana is scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday, April 30, hosting Elmhurst in a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field.
