COON RAPIDS, Minn.-- Stayed with reach of Martin Luther College on Friday afternoon but few costly errors allowed the Knights to stay in front for the full nine innings. The Rams lost 6-3 despite equalling the Knight's nine hits but four errors cost NCU three unearned runs.

North Central trailed 2-1 after two innings on Friday but kept things interesting all afternoon. The teams each added anothe run in the fourth and it was 4-2 through seven innings.

In the top of the eighth MLC would plate two uneared runs to make it 6-2 and that is how the teams would head going into the bottom of the ninth. Sophomore Matt Juve (Spring Lake Park, Minn./Blaine) mashed a lead off home run down the third baseline and junior David Babcock (Fresno, Calif./Buchanan) then drew a two out walk but that would be all the offense NCU could get in their final at bat in a 6-3 loss.

Freshman Jordan Fair (Boyne City, Mich./Boyne City) and sophomore Sidney Grimmett (Bebee, Ark.) were each 2-4 on the day. Matt Juve was 1-4 with his home run. Junior Cody Van Sickle (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) went the full nine innings in the loss scattering three earned runs over nine hits with five strikeouts.

North Central and Martin Luther meet again on Saturday in a double-header. The first pitch is scheduled for Noon at Wintercrest Park.