TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology completed a sweep of North Central College with a 9-7
come from behind victory on Sunday at Art Nehf
Field.
The Engineers scored five times in the sixth inning and added three more runs in the eighth to turn a 6-0 deficit into the 9-7 win.
Rose-Hulman completed a three-game sweep of a North Central team that won 31 games and qualified for the NCAA Central Regional last season.
Junior Derek Dauenbaugh (Bloomington, Ill./University) (pictured) led the 11-hit offensive attack with three hits, including a double. Dauenbaugh also had two RBIs and scored one run.
Senior B.J. Zobrist (Eureka, Ill.) and senior Michael Kovacs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) contributed two hits each. Zobrist had one RBI, with Kovacs slapping a double and driving home two runs.
The Engineers turned a 6-1 deficit into a 6-6 tie with a five-run sixth inning. Dauenbaugh opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error. Following a fielder's choice, sophomore Nick Pilipovich (Terre Haute/North) walked to load the bases. Freshman Andrew Benitez (Mililani, Hawaii) closed the deficit to 6-3 with a two-run, pinch-hit single.
Senior Chris Stemple (Mount Vernon) reached on a single and advanced to second on a throwing error to bring the margin within 6-4. Zobrist added a sacrifice fly to move the margin to 6-5, before Kovacs doubled home the tying run.
The rally allowed freshman Hank Akard (Indianapolis/Ben Davis) to pick up his first college pitching victory. Akard entering in a 6-6 tie and allowed only a solo home run in the ninth to pick up the win. Senior Nick Rumpke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, after senior Gannon Sadzeck (Crystal Lake, Ill.) allowed just one earned run in 5 1/3 innings.
Rose-Hulman improved to 10-4 on the season with the victory, while North Central stands 2-3. The Engineers host a three-game Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series against Defiance College beginning Friday at 6 p.m.