NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst baseball team collected 10 hits, but it wasn't enough as the Bluejays fell 6-2 to North Central in the final game of a three-game series with the Cardinals.

Elmhurst (10-20, 3-12 CCIW) grabbed an early two-run lead after scoring a run in the second and third innings. The Bluejays took advantage of a pair of errors on North Central to take a 1-0 lead in the second. With runners on the corners, Nick Cusumano stole second and the ensuing throw bounced away, allowing Greg Struck to score from third base.

The Bluejays took a 2-0 lead in the third when Struck singled home a run.

North Central (20-11, 11-4 CCIW) evened the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth. The Cardinals pulled in front with a pair of runs in the fifth. Jake Rone's RBI triple gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead. Rone scored one batter later on Sam Klein's RBI single to make the score 4-2. The Cardinals tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eight on an RBI single from Bobby Smith and a run-scoring double from Zach Jarosz.

Struck paced Elmhurst at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Zach Tsiodras and Cusumano added two hits apiece for the Bluejays.

Ben Havel made the start and took the loss despite pitching well. Havel allowed seven hits and four runs over seven innings of work. He walked two and fanned four. Evan Blunk recorded the win for the Cardinals, tossing six innings and allowing eight hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out three.

Elmhurst hosts the University of Chicago on Tuesday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m.