KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage Baseball team took on the North Park Vikings at home on Friday afternoon. After a strong start by the Firebirds, followed by a few slow innings, Carthage runs away with the game in the eighth to pick up the win.  

• Final score: Carthage 5 - North Park 2
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Augie Schmidt Field
• Records: Carthage 19-8 (7-4 CCIW), North Park 21-9 (10-2 CCIW)

 
 

• Carthage's defense started strong, with the Vikings going 3-up-3-down. Bryce Schaum, the starting pitcher for Carthage, ended the top of the 1st inning with two strikeouts. 
• In the bottom of the first with two outs, P.J. Moser took advantage of his walk, advancing to second base on a wild pitch. 
• Matt Felber singled to third base, allowing Moser to touch home for the game's first run. 
• The Firebirds could not catch any momentum from the previous inning, allowing bases to become loaded. 
• The Vikings tied the game with their first run from a walk into home. 
• The Vikings held Carthage scoreless during the bottom of the second inning. The score read 1-1. 
• In the bottom of the fourth inning, Joe Zuleger launched a rocket over the fence in center field for his second home run of the year. 
• The Firebirds led 2-1 after the bottom of the fourth. 
• Schaum racked up an impressive 13 strikeouts before being relieved by Jake Pappagallo in the top of the seventh inning. 
• With two runners on base, the Vikings hit the 3-4 hole to drive one run. The score was tied at two after the seventh. 
• After an intense top half of the 8th inning, Pappagallo escaped unscathed, not allowing any runs to score. 
• Kody Krekling and Moser reached base on a walk in the bottom half of the inning. 
• Jake Fulton placed a sacrifice bunt on the left side of the field to move Krekling to third and Moser to second, both in scoring position. 
• Zuelger took advantage of his teammates in scoring position, driving a barely fair ball down the left field line, scoring both Kerkling and Moser, and belting a double. 
• Zander Tubbs cracked one out to left field, forcing Wayne Karlstedt, the pinch runner for Zuleger, to take home for himself. The Firebirds led 5-2 at the start of the ninth. 
• Ultimately, the Vikings could not fight back for their last chance to bat, leaving the Firebirds to win.  
• Jake Pappagallo received the win, making his record 4-1 this season. Trey Zastrow finished the game with a save. 

• Bryce Schaum pitched 6.2 innings of work striking out 13 which tied his career-best. 
• Trey Zastrow picked up his third save of the year. 
• Joe Zuleger and Zander Tubbs went two-for-four in the game with Zuleger driving in three runs and a homer. 

 

• Carthage Baseball travels to Holmgren Athletic Complex on April 20 against North Park. The action begins at 2 p.m.