Greencastle, Ind. - Visiting North Central held DePauw to just three hits and blanked the Tigers, 4-0, in DePauw's home opener at Walker Field. DePauw dropped to 5-6, while the Cardinals improved to 5-10.

The teams played five scoreless innings before North Central struck in the top of the sixth. Trey Roach led off by being hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on Jackson Bland's ground out. Peyton Burgh then delivered a two-out single through the left side to make it 1-0.

Dave Fitzpatrick's leadoff homer in the eighth made it 2-0. The Cardinals had two runners in scoring position later in the frame, but DePauw reliever Nate Tencza's strikeout ended the inning.

Cameron Macon and Drew Straub walked to lead off the eighth for DePauw's first runner in scoring position and Louis Florida's sacrifice bunt advanced each one base, but a pair of ground outs ended the threat.

Joe Hamilton doubled to lead off the North Central ninth and Roach drew a one-out walk before Bland delivered a triple down the left field line to extend the lead to 4-0.

Grady Johnson and Danny Glimco singled to start the Tigers' ninth, but they were left stranded after two strikeouts and a fly out.

Luke Lehnen and Peyton Burgh each had two of North Central's nine hits, while Johnson, Glimco and Hunter Hrbek each had singles for the Tigers.

Griffin Albright dropped to 1-1 on the season after relieving starter Justin Benes who pitched four scoreless innings. Elijah Hammond improved to 1-3 after three hitless innings in relief of starter AJ Kutcher who allowed just one hit in four innings. Anthony Raineri picked up the save.

DePauw returns to action on Sunday, March 24 with a 9:30 a.m. doubleheader against Williams in Auburndale, Fla.