ELMHURST, Ill. – Walk-off hits from Evan Berliner and Trey Compton propelled the Elmhurst baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of North Park in the Bluejays' home-opener.
 
Berliner smashed a three-run homer to cap a furious ninth-inning rally in game one as Elmhurst emerged with an 8-7 victory. Compton singled home the winning run in game two, lifting the Bluejays to a 6-5 victory. Elmhurst improved to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in league play while North Park slip to 8-13 overall and 1-4 in the CCIW.
 
ELMHURST 8, NORTH PARK 7 (Game One) – Elmhurst erased a five-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth and earned the walk-off 8-7 victory on Evan Berliner's three-run homer.
 
Elmhurst fell behind early as North Park scored two in the second and two more in the third to grab an early 4-0 lead. The Bluejays took a run back in the bottom of the third on Ben Havel's RBI single. Elmhurst closed to within two runs after Jordan Scrimpsher singled home a run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 4-2.
 
North Park tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth to extend their lead to five runs before Elmhurst mounted a furious rally in the ninth. After a leadoff walk to Brandon Kressner, Havel smacked a two-run homer to left to pull Elmhurst to within three runs. After a groundout, A.J. Compton doubled to centerfield and scored on Matt Wilson's RBI single, making the score 7-5. After a fly out for the second out, Trey Compton single to keep the inning alive. Called upon to pinch hit with the tying runs in scoring position, Berliner crushed a three-run homer down the left field line to give Elmhurst the walk-off victory.
Havel led Elmhurst at the plate with two hits and three RBIs while Berliner also finished with three RBIs. Kressner, Wilson and Trey Compton added two hits apiece in the win.
 
Alex Kielion earned the win in relief, pitching a scoreless ninth inning and allowing just one hit. Havel made the start and took a no-decision. He worked six innings and allowed seven hits and three earned runs. He walked three while striking out eight.
 
ELMHURST 6, NORTH PARK 5 (Game Two) – Trey Compton delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to propel the Bluejays to a 6-5 win and the doubleheader sweep of the Vikings.
 
Elmhurst jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Matt Wilson's RBI single. After North Park pulled even in the second, the Bluejays went back in front in the third after A.J. Compton scored during a rundown.
 
North Park took control in the top of the fifth, using five hits to score four runs and build a 5-2 lead. RBI doubles from Cullen Gilbertson and Seth Dvorak helped spark the Vikings' effort in the fifth.
 
Elmhurst answered back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull even at 5-5. Three consecutive two-out singles from Brandon Kressner, Ben Havel and A.J. Compton helped Elmhurst's three-run outburst in the sixth.
 
North Park threatened in the eighth, putting runners at second and third with no outs. After a strikeout and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Kiko Mari induced Nate Simons to pop out to short and then struck out Doug Michalak to end the scoring threat.
 
Elmhurst carried the momentum into the bottom of the ninth, starting the frame with back-to-back singles from Austin MacMillan and Matt Wilson. After a pop-out and a strikeout, Trey Compton singled through the left side of the infield allowing MacMillan to come around and score and touching off the Bluejays' second celebration of the day at home plate.
 
Elmhurst hosts Augustana College on Wednesday, April 5.