MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- A double-header split with Finlandia University on Tuesday earned the Rams a split in their four game series with the Lions. David Babcock recovered from a harrowing moment in Monday's meeting to blast a trio of doubles and the pitching win game one on Tuesday afternoon at Wintercrest Park.

North Central allowed a pair of runs in the first inning on Tuesday but immediately grabbed control back in the bottom of the frame. Junior David Babcock (Fresno, Calif./Buchanan) led off the game with a double and freshman Jordan Fair (Boyne City, Mich./Boyne City) laid down bunt for a base hit that allowed Babcock to score on the throw. Junior Cody Van Sickle (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) drew a walk and sophomore Taylor Madrinich (West Bend, Wis./West Bend) singled to load the bases. Freshman Michael Cardinalli (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill) reached on an error that also plated a run and kept the bases full.

Sophomore Sidney Grimmett (Beebe, Ark./Beebe) then singled to score a run and reload the bases. Freshman Seamus Sullivan (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) reached on a fielders choice so the bases stayed full with two outs before the Rams kept the scoring gates open. Sophomore Caleb Wyre (Scottsbluff, Neb./Gering) reached on an error and sophomore Matthew Juve (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) singled to push two more across. David Babcock came back up again in the frame and reached on a fielders choice that drove in a run and gave NCU a 6-2 lead through a full inning.

Both teams were scoreless in the second before the Rams got it going again in the third. Matthew Juve opened the rally by reaching on an error with one out and David Babcock moved him to third with another double. Jordan Fair then singled to center to drive in a run and move Babcock to third. Fair then stole second and Babcock was able to score on the throw. Cody Van Sickle then plated Fair with an RBI double to center and NCU led 9-2 through three.

The Lions got one back in the fourth but the Rams held a 9-3 lead through four innings. Finlandia got two more in the fifth before the Rams responded with their final rally of the game. David Babcock doubled to start the frame and a groundout by Jordan Fair moved him up to third. Cody Van Sickle then reached on an error that allowed Babcock to score to make it 10-5 through five innings.

Finlandia got a run in the sixth and seventh but David Babcock finished the Lions off with a strikeout that ended their final at-bat of the game. Babcock was the star of the game for NCU on the day 24 hours after he was hit in the face on the second pitch of Monday's double-header with Finlandia. He was 3-4 at the plate with three doubles while going all seven innings on the mound striking out eight and scattering six earned runs over 10 hits.

Cody Van Sickle was 2-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Jordan Fair was 2-3 with 2 RBI and a stolen base. Sidney Grimmett and Matthew Juve each had a an RBI single.

Game two did not go as well for the Rams as they fell behind 6-0 before batting in the third innning. Matthew Juve reached on a two-out fielders choice before David Babcock posted another double to plate a run. Jordan Fair then posted an RBI ground out and the Rams trailed 6-2 through three innings.

Both teams were scoreless in the fourth before the Lions added three more in the fifth. NCU was scoreless in the fifth and sixth and trailed 9-2 headed to their final at bat. Matthew Juve singled to get the inning started and David Babcock singled to move him up to third with no outs. After a strikeout, Cody Van Sickle grounded out to drive in a run but that would be all the Rams could get in a 9-3 defeat.

David Babcock was 2-4 with an RBI double and Seamus Sullivan was 2-2 with a walk in the loss. Matthew Juve and Taylor Madrinich each recorded a single in game two.

North Central is off for a few days before heading north for Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action this weekend. NCU will play a three game set at Northland College (Ashland, Wis.). Friday the Rams and Lumberjacks are scheduled for a 3 p.m. single game before playing a double-header on Saturday scheduled for a Noon start.