St. Norbert Charges Back to Top Central

From Sports Information Director, March 14, 2013 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

AUBURNDALE, Fla. - St. Norbert College rallied to victory in its second consecutive game with an 8-7 win over defending Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion Central College.

The Green Knights (4-2) trailed 5-1 entering the fifth inning before scoring four runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the score 5-5. Central (6-2) pitcher Ryan Goetzinger opened the fifth inning with four consecutive walks to force in a run. Jose Godinez had a two-run single and Nick Pierre an RBI single to finish of the rally.

St. Norbert pulled ahead with a single run in the seventh inning. With one out, Godinez singled and Travis Mason doubled. Pierre's sacrifice fly to center field put the Green Knights ahead 6-5. St. Norbert picked up a much-needed insurance run in the eighth inning. Carlos Rodriguez led off the inning with a double, and after being sacrificed to third he scored on Chad Ljunggren's RBI single.

Central knotted the game at 7-7 in the top of the ninth with two runs on one hit and one St. Norbert error. Godinez then doubled to open the bottom of the ninth. Following a sacrifice, Pierre and Alex Larsen were both intentionally walked. Rodriguez then singled in the game-winning run.

Godinez finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Rodriguez was 2-for-5. Pierre also had three RBIs.

Kyle Mahlik picked up the win by working one inning in relief. Kevin Nutley started and worked eight innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts.