PNW Defeats St. Francis to Complete Series Sweep
The Purdue University Northwest baseball team wrapped up its regular season with a 6-3 victory over Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent St. Francis (Ill.) Tuesday night.
The Pride (29-16, 20-7 CCAC) were led by Avondre Harris (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) led the Black and Gold with three hits and two runs scored while Tyler Kenjic (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) recorded a pair of hits with a trio of RBI and one run scored.
Kenjic started things off in the top of the first with a 2-RBI double to centerfield which plated Harris and Tyler Crussen (Wheeler, Ind./Wheeler) to give the Pride a 2-0 win.
Jonny Albers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) would record an RBI-groundout followed by an RBI-single from Jono Bigger (Roselawn, Ind./North Newton) which put the Pride ahead 4-0.
PNW would tack on another run in the top of the fifth inning on another RBI-hit from Kenjic to give the Pride a 5-0 advantage.
After the Fighting Saints scored in the bottom of the eighth, the Pride would score one more run on a wild pitch would score Mike Mikulich (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) to give the Pride a 6-1 adavantage.
USF would score two more runs in the bottom of the inning, but the Pride would hold off any comeback efforts to complete the series sweep.
Alex Batistatos (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) picked up his second win of the season after throwing seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits while striking out five.
Fabian Del Real (Calumet City, Ill./T.F. North) came in relief and pitched one inning while allowing one run and Brody Kutch (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) would finish off the game, allowing two runs in one inning to close things out for the Pride.
The Black and Gold begin CCAC Postseason play Friday, May 5, with their opponent and seed to be determined.
Purdue Northwest's Josh Arnold Named CCAC Player of the Week Purdue University Northwest baseball pitcher Josh Arnold received Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week after a stellar performance on the mound last week.
Arnold (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) went 1-0 on the week with a 0.00 ERA through 11 innings including a nine-inning shutout against St. Francis. Arnold held opponents batters to a .184 batting average without allowing an extra base hit.
The 6-foot-1 lefthander is having a great sophomore season on the mound for the Black and Gold, owning a 3-1 record with a 2.04 ERA and 27 strikeouts through 53 innings pitched on the season.
This marks the first POW honor for Arnold and second for the Black and Gold after Matt Sandoval earned his first CCAC Pitcher of the Week award earlier in the season.
PNW faces off with St. Francis (Ill.) for its regular season finale Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT).
Purdue Northwest's Caroline Brown Named NAIA Pitcher of the Week Purdue University Northwest softball’s Caroline Brown not only earned her second Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honor, but the senior also snagged the first NAIA National Pitcher of the Week honor in PNW softball history.
Brown (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) was essentially perfect in three starts last week, earning three shut out victories without allowing an earned run for a 0.00 earned run average.
In 21 total innings, Brown scattered 13 hits, struck out five and walked just one batter in wins over Roosevelt (4-0), Trinity Christian (3-0) and West Virginia Tech (1-0). She held opponents to a stingy .186 batting average and did not allow an extra base hit.
On the year, Brown is 14-8 with a 1.54 ERA, with five shutouts, 66 strikeouts and has walked just 23 in 141 innings pitched. Her ERA ranks third overall in the CCAC.
Purdue Northwest finished the regular season with a 28-21-1 record and earned the fourth seed into this week’s double-elimination CCAC Tournament, as the Pride will take on fifth-seeded St. Ambrose Thursday at noon at The Ballpark in Rosemont, Ill.
Should PNW win its opening game, the Pride will face the winner of No. 8 Trinity Christian and No. 1 St. Francis (Ill.) on Friday at 10 a.m. If PNW loses its opening game, it will play again Thursday at 6 p.m. against the loser of Trinity Christian/St. Francis.
Baseball Game with St. Francis (Ill.) Postponed Due to Weather Due to inclement weather, Monday’s scheduled regular season finale with St. Francis (Ill.) has been postponed.
Makeup date for the contest in Joliet, Ill. is scheduled for either Tuesday or Wednesday night at 6 p.m. (CT) based on the availability of umpires.
Stay up-to-date on the upcoming game and all other events happening this week as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournaments begin at PNWathletics.com or @PNWAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
