Box Score

MEQUON, Wis. - The Benedictine University baseball team, ranked fourth in the Midwest Region, opened play in the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament with a 7-5 win over Concordia Wisconsin, holding off a late rally as well as a 22 minute rain delay.

Benedictine fell behind in the top of the first as Concordia Wisconsin, the host school, struck for a run against starter Mike Irgang. The Eagles responded immediately, scoring three in each of the first two innings to seemingly take control.

Tim Hendricks, newly minted as the conference position player of the year, opened the first with a single. Nick Karakosta followed with a single and Kevin Hendricks evened the game with an RBI groundout. Mike Luschen put Benedictine ahead with a sacrifice fly and Tom Higgins finished the inning with an RBI double. The second saw more of the same with a Kevin Hendricks RBI single and a two-run double from Luschen.

Irgang started to deal, working through 7.2 innings to improve to 5-0 on the year, returning following a 22-minute delay prior to the bottom of the seventh. The sophomore overcame six walks and allowed just three runs. Concordia Wisconsin threatened in the ninth, scoring twice and loading the bases, but Ty Anderson recorded the final two outs for his first save of the season.

Benedictine stroked 13 hits in the game, nine in the first three innings, chasing the Concordia starter in the second. Tim Hendricks logged three hits at the top of the order while Karakosta, Kevin Hendricks, and Luschen all posted two hits apiece.

Benedictine (31-8) continues play in the tourney at 4:00 p.m. on Friday against third seeded Aurora, a 1-0 winner over Rockford. The time was moved due to rain, which forced the cancellation of Thursday's final game.