ADRIAN, Mich. (March 16, 2024) – Day two of the Adrian Tournament saw the No. 6 Denison University baseball team defeat North Central College for the second time this season, this time by a score of 12-3 behind 18 hits and two home runs offensively to go along with 11 combined strikeouts from the pitching staff.

Earlier this month on March 2, Denison (11-2 overall) defeated North Central (4-9) in comeback fashion after scoring eight runs in the eighth inning to pull out a 15-7 victory during its first game at the Derby City Classic.

In Saturday's matchup, there was no such late inning drama as Denison scored four runs on five hits in the second inning and added two more four-run innings while Peter Lemke (3-0) pitched five innings allowing two total runs, one earned run, two hits, four walks and five strikeouts to earn the victory.

The big top of the second inning for Denison started with a leadoff triple to right center field by Owen Wilson, and then with one out, designated hitter Jack Steel doubled to center to score Wilson and get the Big Red on the scoreboard first.

Then with two outs, Jack Lutte smacked Denison's third extra-base hit of the second inning with a two-run double to right center before Noah Leib came up with an RBI-single to right field to score Lutte from second base to make it 4-0 Big Red.

A leadoff triple to right field helped the Cardinals get onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning, and then after another run on a groundout to first base moved two runners into scoring position, Lemke got back-to-back swinging strikeouts to strand the tying run at second base.

Wilson again got things started for Denison in the top of the fifth as he singled to center field with one out, advanced to second on a hit by pitch by Erik Sundgren, and then scored on a double to right field by Steel.

Denison's second four-run inning of the game ultimately ended with a two-run homer by Eric Colaco to make it 8-2, and then in the ninth inning, Denison added a three-run home run from Leib to make it 12-3.

Leib finished 4-for-6 with four RBI's while Lutte was 3-for-6 with three RBI's. Steel was 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI's and two doubles while Colaco and Wilson both had two hits as well.

Robbie Lee earned a save after pitching the final four innings allowing one run, three hits and one walk to go along with six strikeouts.

During the final day of the tournament on Sunday, March 17, Denison will take on the hosts from Adrian College. Denison has defeated Adrian in each of their last five meetings, including three games last season in which the Big Red outscored the Bulldogs a combined 34-7.