Carol Stream, Ill: After a snow-filled win over Baldwin Wallace, the No. 1 Denison Big Red baseball team closed out its trip to Illinois against the Cardinals of North Central College. The Big Red completed the undefeated weekend with a dominant 17-0 victory, highlighted by home runs from Eron Vega and Jack Lutte. The win marks the Big Red's second shutout win of the season. Denison moves to 9-1 on the season while North Central drops to 3-7.

No. 1 Denison 17, North Central 0 (7 Innings)

The No. 1 Denison Big Red offense stayed hot in their first at bat of the game when Eron Vega launched his second lead off homer of the weekend to take a quick 1-0 lead. A double from Jack Lutte and a base hit from Erik Sundgren were quick to cross the plate after Andrew Fazio cleared the bags with a double down the right field line to go up 3-0 after their first at bat.

Senior Robbie Lee got his third start of the year and took command early, striking out two in his first inning of work. The bats continued to support the starter in their second at bat, tacking on another three runs. Vega and Lutte rattled off back-to-back doubles, and Sundgren was intentionally walked. Kelly Crittenberger scored two with a single up the middle to make it 6-0 after two in favor of Denison.

After a scoreless third inning, the Big Red erupted for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. After Sundgren, Jack Rollo, and Fazio loaded the bags, the Big Red went to work with runners in scoring position for the rest of the inning. Sundgren took home on a wild pitch before Max Fishbein, and Crittenberger tacked on two runs with a pair of singles to make it 9-0. Bobby Haarde would reload the bases with a single before Lutte would smash his first homer of the season with a grand slam to make it 13-0.

The Big Red would be held scoreless in the top of the fifth, but Lee would continue to deal, tossing his fifth straight scoreless inning. In the top of the sixth, Lutte would stay red hot, scoring Kuyper Lashutka to push the lead to 14-0. Brady Olsen would record his first career RBI, scoring Kade Keown to put the Big Red up 15-0.

Lee would retire after 5.0 innings of work on the mound. Cooper Marrs would take over on the bump in the bottom of the sixth with a 15-0 lead. Marrs would toss a three-up, three-down inning with one strikeout in his single inning.

With a strong lead, the Big Red did not hold back in what would be their final at-bat. In a pinch hit, Nate Lloyd blasted a two-run homer over the left field wall to score Bobby Gummere and take a 17-0 lead.

In the final frame, Noah Shapo took over for Marrs. The Cardinals would find a spark, loading the bases with two outs in an attempt to ruin the shutout. However, Shapo would battle and record a looking strike three to secure the 17-0 shutout victory.

The pitching staff of Lee, Marrs, and Shapo would allow seven hits and record 11 strikeouts in the combined shutout. Lee earned his third win of the season. The defense was perfect in support, recording zero errors.

In the box, the offense was dominant, scoring 17 runs on 16 hits while forcing three errors. Vega, Lutte, and Lloyd smashed homers and Lutte led the team with a 4-5 performance and six RBIs. Crittenberger, Sundgren, and Vega added multiple hits for Denison. The Big Red drew six walks and Sundgren controlled the base path with two stolen bases.

Up next: The Big Red will travel to the Beaver State of Oregon, where they will play five games across five days at multiple sites. The first matchup will be with the River Otters of Lewis and Clark University. First pitch is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, at 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET).