MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- North Central University claimed its seventh win in nine games and its third straight double header sweep in a road double dip at Maranatha Baptist Bible College on Thursday afternoon. The Rams starting pitching went the full seven innings in both games and moved NCU to within just two games of the largest win total in program history.

GAME ONE
Junior pitcher Devin Lehnhoff added to his NCAA Division III leading complete game total (8) with a seven inning, three hit performance, allowing just one earned run and striking out four with just one walk.

NCU scored runs in each of the first three innings to establish a 3-0 lead through 6.5 innings. Maranatha scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth but the Rams held off a seventh inning rally for the home team to take a 3-1 victory.

Junior center fielder Ben Freitag (Lakeville, Minn.) led off the game with a single in the first and later scored when freshman catcher Gary Ramos (Chicago, Ill.) chopped a two-out RBI single in to left field.

In the second inning junior right fielder Matt Farland (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) led off with a single and with one out sophomore second baseman Ricardo Cardenas (Thorton, Colo.) scored Farland from third base with an RBI single.

North Central's third run came in the third inning when freshman third baseman Isaac Gross (Grayson, Ga.) led off with a single and moved to second and third on pair of wild pitches. Gary Ramos then knocked in Gross with a clutch, one out double.

On the day Ramos was 2-4 with 2 RBI. Isaac Gross was 2-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

GAME TWO
The second game was more of the same for NCU on the mound with junior Blake Balaam (Mission Viejo, Calif.) going for his seventh complete game with a tremendous two hit shutout victory. Balaam struck out two with no walks, facing just four batters over the minimum.

North Central jumped out on MBBC in the first inning and never looked back. Ben Freitag led off the game with a double and moved to third when senior shortstop Joe Robinson (Gilbert, Ariz.) reached on an error and then stole second.

Isaac Gross then hit a sacrifice fly to score Freitag and move Robinson over to third for sophomore designated hitter Ian Andrews (Coon Rapids, Minn.). Andrews grounded out to the third baseman but scored Robinson. Gary Ramos then reached on a double, stole third base and then scored on a passed ball to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.

Both teams would go down scoreless through the fifth inning when North Central added two more in the top of the sixth. Gross and Andrews led off that inning with singles and senior right fielder Jay Beichley (Gladbrook, Iowa) loaded the bases by reaching on a walk. Senior first baseman Jon Tolbert (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) then recorded a RBI by reaching on a walk of his own, keeping the bases loaded. The next two Rams were retired but junior catcher Matt Huberty (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) was able to knock in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field giving the Rams a 5-0 lead.

The Rams held Maranatha in their final two at bats and earned the completion of their third straight double header sweep.

Ben Freitag was 2-4 in the Rams lead off spot with a run scored and a double. Isaac Gross was 2-3 with an RBI. Gary Ramos was 1-2 with a double and a run scored. Ian Andrews was 1-3 with an RBI and Jon Tolbert was 1-2 with a walk and an RBI.

North Central is back in action today at 2 p.m. with double header verses Minnesota-Morris at Wintercrest Park.