JOLIET, Ill. – 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.