BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

NPU's leaving too many runners on base, which has been a chronic problem of late.

IWU homers twice, so it's now 4-2 in the fifth.

And IWU is not getting anybody on base before the homers, which is also a problem!

Reminds me of the Tigers last night.  Worth unsuccessfully tried to steal second.  Two pitches later, Davis hit a homer. (I told my Tigers buddy, "Rajai, you've got to tell the manager you're hitting a HR - don't do anything stupid!  Communicate!!")

[Gregory Sager]

Peterson on in relief of Soldano. Still 4-2, NPU, bottom of 7th.

[Gregory Sager]

Nice poke, Danny boy!

[Gregory Sager]

Johnson gets the hook from Martel. Jonathan "I'd Like To Buy A Vowel, Pat" Vlk now on the mound for IWU. Top of 8th, 5-2 in favor of the Vikes.

[Gregory Sager]

Vlk exits in favor of sidearming righty Pat Domke, who immediately gives up an RBI single to Zak Worsley. It's now 8-2, NPU, Vikings still batting in the top of the 8th.

[Gregory Sager]

In the only other CCIW game played tonight, North Central beat Wheaton, 6-1, at Pfund Stadium. Krusen over Rahn.

[Gregory Sager]

The Vikings have knocked Domke out of the game. Huskisson now in to pitch for the Titans. It's 11-2, NPU, two runners in scoring position, and still nobody out in the top of the 9th.

It's turned into an Xbox game. The Vikings have now knocked out Huskisson; Troy Huber will now make his varsity debut on the mound for IWU. It's 15-2, NPU, still nobody out in the top of the ninth.

After Luke Johnson sent a parade of second-stringers to the plate, the top of the 9th finally came to an end with NPU up, 18-2.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 18, Illinois Wesleyan 2

WP: Soldano (6-1)
LP: Johnson (4-2)

NPU now has sole possession of first place. It's not much of a lead -- a half-game over Augie -- but it's a lead.

To say the Vikes swung the bats well tonight would be an understatement: 21 hits on the night for NPU. Aside from the two dingers given up in the fifth, Soldano & Co. more or less kept the Titans bats at bay.

Very nice win ... but there's no resting on laurels here. Gotta come back and play two more in Bloomington tomorrow.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm by no means shocked that NPU won, but I did NOT see that total beat-down coming.

4-2 entering the 8th, then NPU got 4 in the 8th, and TEN in the ninth.

[Gregory Sager]

Forgot to mention that yesterday Nick Soldano broke Jeff Hanson's school career strikeout record of 248 Ks set back in 2004, as his six punchouts yesterday brought him to 249 for his career. Congrats, Nick!

[Gregory Sager]

IWU leads NPU in game one after two innings, 1-0.

NCC leads WC in game one after two innings, 2-0.

[Gregory Sager]

IWU edges NPU in the opener, 1-0, Hart over Silverthorne. The Vikings had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, but couldn't push a run across.

They wasted a great effort by Silvy, who threw a four-hitter. The Vikings bats just didn't come through.

And now it's on to the rubber game, which I'm guessing will be a battle of the paesans: Vannucci versus Romano. Inizia a giocare!

[Gregory Sager]

The good news is that Carthage is leading Augie in the fifth of game one in Kenosha, 4-0. Daniels (CC) vs. Davis (AC).

Wheaton and North Central are deadlocked in the ninth of the first game in Naperville, 4-4. Singh's still on the mound for the Cards, while Pete Moran has relieved Kaufman for WC.

Elmhurst is ripping apart Millikin pitching in game one, 9-1. Hanlon (EC) vs. Owens, who relieved battered starter Paolicchi for the host Big Blue.

[Gregory Sager]

Correction: T.D. Conway is starting for NPU in the rubber match. It's his first appearance on the mound in almost two months.

I knew that Luke Johnson was going to try to work him into the Wesleyan series, but I'm a bit surprised that he's actually starting him.

Wheaton and North Central are now in the tenth inning, still tied at 4 apiece. Carthage is still up on Augie, 4-0, in the seventh. Elmhurst is now up on Millikin by 11-1 in the 6th.

[Gregory Sager]

Way to go, Red Men! Josh Daniels threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout, as Carthage knocked off Augustana in the first game, 4-0.

Wheaton and NCC are still deadlocked at 4 in the 12th inning, while Elmhurst is two outs away from skunking Millikin 11-1 in the seventh.