Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University baseball team scored its first Northern Athletics Conference sweep of the season by disposing of Maranatha in a pair of games on Monday afternoon.

GAME ONE: BENEDICTINE 16, MARANATHA 1 - SEVEN INNINGS
Benedictine brought the bats in the opening game, using 12 runs in the first three innings including a seven-run second, to easily win the opener.

Matt Vucovich put together his best effort of the year on the mound, pitching five flawless frames. Vucovich collected his first victory of the season by carrying a no-hitter into the fifth. The righty walked two and struck out five.

The Eagles provided Vucovich early offense, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Uli Ortiz recorded the first hit of the game with one out in the inning and quickly stole second. With two outs John Cervantes dropped a single into the left field corner to drive home the game's first run. Nick Karakosta extended the advantage to 2-0 with a single up the middle.

Seven runs scored in the second inning to put Benedictine ahead 9-0. With runners sitting at second and third following a Jake Passini walk and a Mike Loni single and stolen base, Dan Zust logged his first of four doubles on the day, scoring two with a drive to right. Ortiz singled home Zust and quickly stole second again. Cervantes doubled in Ortiz and crossed the plate moments later when Tom Higgins followed with another two-bagger. Passini and Mike Loni added RBI singles in the inning.

Ortiz helped propel a three-run third with a leadoff single. Karakosta poked a two-out RBI single into right and an error allowed a second run to cross. Tim Hendricks concluded the scoring with a single to right-center, handing Benedictine a 12-0 advantage.

Passini and Adam Carroll knocked home runs in the fifth while Chris Garrett lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Mike Pater logged an RBI single to account for the final four runs.

Eight of the nine players in the lineup posted a hit as Benedictine hammered out 18. Zust, Cervantes, Passini, and Karakosta drove home two runs each. Ortiz and Cervantes picked up three hits each.

GAME TWO: BENEDICTINE 8, MARANATHA 2
Benedictine scored in six of their eight ventures to the plate in waltzing to the sweep.

The Eagles amassed single runs in the first three innings to open a 3-0 advantage. Zust opened the game with a single and stole second before eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Zust doubled in Loni, who walked, in the second. Higgins opened the third with a triple and jogged in on a sacrifice fly from Cervantes.

Maranatha (1-17, 0-8) touched starter Mike Irgang for a pair of runs in the fourth, scraping within 3-2. Benedictine answered with two of their own in the bottom of the frame. Zust drove in his second run of the game with another double, scoring Loni. Higgins added an RBI single in the inning as Benedictine went up 5-2. Tim Gindville led off the fifth with a walk and scored on a groundout from Steve Cocat. Irgang tossed five innings to tally the win, striking out three.

The final margin was accounted for with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Zust lifted a sacrifice fly and pinch hitter Ortiz singled. Benedictine amassed 13 hits in the nightcap. Zust finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs. Higgins also finished with two hits.

Benedictine (11-11, 5-3) will welcome Elmhurst College on Thursday night in a non-conference game at the Sports Complex. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m.