MINNEAPOLIS-- Rams baseball was close to claiming a double-header sweep on Friday night at Wintercrest Park. After winning game one against Finlandia University, 9-6, North Central surrendered a late lead in game two and a final rally came up short in a 10-7 loss to the Lions.

In game one North Central (4-24) jumped out to a 3-0 lead through four innings including a two-run home run in the second inning by senior Cody Van Sickle (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem). Finlandia responded with a five-run fifth inning but North Central fired right back in their part of the inning.

Freshman Taylor Justice (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson) led of the inning reaching on an error and moved to third on a double by freshman Cory Kukkola (Fountain Hill, Ariz./Fountain Hills). Freshman Bobby Donohoe (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City West) then crushed a triple deep to right center that plated two runs. Freshman Bryce Riege (Marshall, Wis./Marshall) then singled home Donohoe. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and no outs Van Sickle reached on an error that allowed another run to score and gave NCU 7-5 lead.

Finlandia got another run in the top of the sixth but NCU got more scoring in the bottom of the frame. Junior Matthew Juve (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) led off with a single and Cory Kukkola then smacked a one out double to put runners at second and third. Bobby Donohoe then crushed another extra base hit, this time a two-bagger, that drove in both runners.

North Central finished off the Lions in the top of the seventh and Cody Van Sickle earned his second pitching win of the year. He went all seven innings, scattering four earned runs over seven hits with five strikouts and just one walk. Cory Kukkola was 3-4 with a double and a stolen base. Senior Taylor Madrinich (West Bend, Wis./West Bend West) was 3-3 with a double and Bobby Donohoe was 2-4 with a double, a triple and 4 RBI.

GAME TWO

The Rams cruised through the first three innings of game two and led 5-0 before Finlandia got their offense going. The visitors posted four in the fifth and after both teams were scoreless in the fifth, dropped five more on the Rams in the sixth to take a 9-6 lead.

North Central appeared to have a rally going in the sixth before a close call on the base paths stole some momentum. With one out Bobby Donohoe walked and moved to third on a double from Bryce Riege. The Lions catcher then allowed a ball to get by Donohoe charged for home but was called out in a close attempt. Later in the inning, with two outs Taylor Madrinich posted an RBI single that might have been bigger aside from the earlier close play at the plate. With the bases loaded a called third strike ended the Rams threat.

After the Lions got another run in the seventh North Central went to work with a final rally attempt. After a lead-off walk, a line out double-play brought the Rams down to their final out. Taylor Justice drew a walk and moved all the way to third on a pair of wild pitches. Cory Kukkola walked and Bobby Donohoe came up having already notched two extra base hits and 4 RBI in the double-header. It appeared that North Central had loaded the bases when Donohoe was hit by a pitch with two strikes. But the home plate umpire ruled he had swung before being hit, and thus, struck out to end the game.

Bryce Riege was 2-4 with a double and 3 runs scored. Freshman Tate Andrews (Coon Rapids, Minn.) was 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI. 

North Central will continue their weekend series with Finlandia tomorrow afternoon at Wintercrest Park. The teams will play a double-header with first pitch scheduled at Noon.