Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Benedictine University baseball team played its first game since returning from Florida and failed to hold a 6-2 lead in falling to North Park 7-6 on Wednesday night.

North Park nabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Benedictine starter Phil Palmisano when Tony Sanchez posted an RBI single. The Eagles took the lead with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the third. The rally began when Chris Wanderling drew a walk and quickly stole second. Dan Zust evened the score with an RBI single to plate Wanderling and promptly stole second. Nick Karakosta kept the inning moving with a walk before Ryan Mullin put Benedictine ahead with a single.

The hosts responded in the bottom of the inning, notching a two-out unearned run to tie the score again at 2-2. Benedictine hung a four-spot in the top of the fourth to take control of the game. The first three batters of the inning reached as Tom Higgins walked, Steve Cocat logged a bunt single, and John Cervantes walked. Uli Ortiz, appearing for the first time this season, lined a double down the right field line to score two runs. Following a pitching change Tim Hendricks also doubled, driving home to more to hand Benedictine a 6-2 advantage.

The lead held until the bottom of the sixth, when North Park netted five runs against three different hurlers. Three walks and a hit batter set the stage for leadoff man Eric Sousanes, who turned the course of the game with a two-run single to put North Park ahead for good.

Palmisano lasted 5.2 innings in the defeat. Four other pitchers appeared in the loss. Benedictine stole four bases in the contest.

North Park won 30 games last season and shared the CCIW crown. The Vikings (14-3) are off to a fast start this season after being picked to place third, and sit as the team receiving the highest number of votes not in the D3baseball.com Top 25.

Benedictine (6-7) will open play in the Northern Athletics Conference on Saturday with a scheduled road doubleheader at Concordia University Chicago, currently ranked 25th in the D3baseball.com poll. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.