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The Valiants won the Skyline Conference Regular Season
Championship with a 4-0 shutout at Old Westbury behind a complete
game shutout from Danny Alvarez
Danny Alvarez twirled a complete game, five-hit shutout and the Valiants scored four runs in the first three innings, hanging on to beat Old Westbury 4-0 Sunday afternoon at the Jackie Robinson Athletic Complex, and giving Manhattanville their second regular season conference championship in the last three years.
The Valiants won their division of what was then known as the Knickerbocker conference two years ago, the first season under Head Coach Jeff Caulfield, and will enter the conference tournament as the number one seed again this year, finishing a program best 14-4 in the Skyline and finishing one game ahead of Centenary (N.J.) and Stevens.
Alvarez has been the Valiants' top pitcher all season and was at his best Sunday, allowing seven baserunners over seven innings and pitching out of a two-out, bases loaded jam in the third. The junior righthander is now 3-0 with a miniscule 1.00 ERA in four starts, allowing only 20 hits over 27.0 innings.
The Valiants did their offensive work in the early innings thanks to some fine work from the top of the batting order, where Thomas Verrengia went 2-for-4 with two RBI from the leadoff spot and freshman Paul Blejec went 3-for-4 in the two hole. Both hitters have been on a tear lately, with Verrengia picking up a hit in 10 of his last 11 games and batting .538 over that span, and Blejec – the team's leading hitter at .450 – batting 11-for-21 in the five games since his season-long 14-game hitting streak was snapped April 22.
Jason Monforte was the only other Valiant with more than one hit, going 2-for-4, although senior catcher Jeff Dunn did reach base twice and score a run.
Old Westbury (16-18, 11-7 Skyline) used seven different pitchers in the game in a desperate attempt to take one in the season series from the Valiants and clinch a spot in the Skyline Tournament. The Panthers now await the result of tonight's Mount Saint Vincent-Farmingdale State doubleheader, needing Mount Saint Vincent to win at least one game to advance to rematch with the Valiants Thursday.
Manhattanville (20-15, 14-4 Skyline) has won four straight and seven of their last eight and will play a tournament tune-up game Tuesday at Manhattanville Field against Ramapo. The Valiants will then enter the postseason, with Thursday's Skyline Tournament game.
The Valiants won their division of what was then known as the Knickerbocker conference two years ago, the first season under Head Coach Jeff Caulfield, and will enter the conference tournament as the number one seed again this year, finishing a program best 14-4 in the Skyline and finishing one game ahead of Centenary (N.J.) and Stevens.
Alvarez has been the Valiants' top pitcher all season and was at his best Sunday, allowing seven baserunners over seven innings and pitching out of a two-out, bases loaded jam in the third. The junior righthander is now 3-0 with a miniscule 1.00 ERA in four starts, allowing only 20 hits over 27.0 innings.
The Valiants did their offensive work in the early innings thanks to some fine work from the top of the batting order, where Thomas Verrengia went 2-for-4 with two RBI from the leadoff spot and freshman Paul Blejec went 3-for-4 in the two hole. Both hitters have been on a tear lately, with Verrengia picking up a hit in 10 of his last 11 games and batting .538 over that span, and Blejec – the team's leading hitter at .450 – batting 11-for-21 in the five games since his season-long 14-game hitting streak was snapped April 22.
Jason Monforte was the only other Valiant with more than one hit, going 2-for-4, although senior catcher Jeff Dunn did reach base twice and score a run.
Old Westbury (16-18, 11-7 Skyline) used seven different pitchers in the game in a desperate attempt to take one in the season series from the Valiants and clinch a spot in the Skyline Tournament. The Panthers now await the result of tonight's Mount Saint Vincent-Farmingdale State doubleheader, needing Mount Saint Vincent to win at least one game to advance to rematch with the Valiants Thursday.
Manhattanville (20-15, 14-4 Skyline) has won four straight and seven of their last eight and will play a tournament tune-up game Tuesday at Manhattanville Field against Ramapo. The Valiants will then enter the postseason, with Thursday's Skyline Tournament game.
Permalink | Apr 30, 2007
Linfield sends Carnahan off with win in home finale
Surrounded by a packed house, Linfield sent coach Scott Carnahan out with a 7-1 win in his final home and Northwest Conference game on Sunday against Whitworth.
Carnahan, who has a career record of 562-375-2 (727-445-2 overall), concludes his 24th and final season as head coach next weekend with a pair of non-league games at Lewis-Clark State.
In winning Sunday's game, Linfield finished third in the NWC standings with a 17-7 record (22-14 overall). The Wildcats won eight of their final nine conference games of the season. And the team posted its 16th consecutive 20-win season.
A sun-baked crowd of nearly 300 gave at Roy Helser Field gave Carnahan a standing ovation before the bottom of the eighth inning. And before the game began, the coach was presented a framed portrait with the names of every former player listed around the border and the words "Shaping Lives at Linfield College for 24 years.
Carnahan's final Linfield team -- one with just one senior -- didn't disappoint.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Stew Davis drove in David Bachofner from third on a sacrifice grounder.
In the third inning, Mills and Fenton hit run-scoring singles after Ellis got things started with a walk and a stolen base. The Wildcats led 3-0 at that point.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Reese McCulley pitched five strong innings, allowing one run and scattering seven hits. He picked up the victory and improved to 2-1.
In the fourth inning, the Wildcats tacked on three more runs. Brian Kerr started things off with a leadoff double and Austin Highberger followed him with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Mills hit a 2-2 pitch into center field to bring in two runs.
Mills finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in. He improved his team-high totals in hits and total bases to 53 and 69, respectively. He will enter the final weekend with a .373 batting average.
Ellis scored his team-leading 41st and 42nd runs and had a pair of stolen bases to increase his total for the season to 19.
Bachofner hit an RBI single in the sixth, scoring Caleb Kearns for the seventh Linfield run of the game.
Joshua Guterman came on for four shutout innings and gave up one hit and two walks. He picked up his first save of the season.
Carnahan, who will hand over the reins of the Linfield baseball program to 1998 World Series MVP and alumnus Scott Brosius, won 11 Northwest Conference championships and finished second on six other occasions. His teams won five straight NWC championships between 1992 and 1996.
He was named NWC Coach of the Year 11 times and NAIA District 2 Coach of the Year three times.
Carnahan, who has a career record of 562-375-2 (727-445-2 overall), concludes his 24th and final season as head coach next weekend with a pair of non-league games at Lewis-Clark State.
In winning Sunday's game, Linfield finished third in the NWC standings with a 17-7 record (22-14 overall). The Wildcats won eight of their final nine conference games of the season. And the team posted its 16th consecutive 20-win season.
A sun-baked crowd of nearly 300 gave at Roy Helser Field gave Carnahan a standing ovation before the bottom of the eighth inning. And before the game began, the coach was presented a framed portrait with the names of every former player listed around the border and the words "Shaping Lives at Linfield College for 24 years.
Carnahan's final Linfield team -- one with just one senior -- didn't disappoint.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Stew Davis drove in David Bachofner from third on a sacrifice grounder.
In the third inning, Mills and Fenton hit run-scoring singles after Ellis got things started with a walk and a stolen base. The Wildcats led 3-0 at that point.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Reese McCulley pitched five strong innings, allowing one run and scattering seven hits. He picked up the victory and improved to 2-1.
In the fourth inning, the Wildcats tacked on three more runs. Brian Kerr started things off with a leadoff double and Austin Highberger followed him with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Mills hit a 2-2 pitch into center field to bring in two runs.
Mills finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in. He improved his team-high totals in hits and total bases to 53 and 69, respectively. He will enter the final weekend with a .373 batting average.
Ellis scored his team-leading 41st and 42nd runs and had a pair of stolen bases to increase his total for the season to 19.
Bachofner hit an RBI single in the sixth, scoring Caleb Kearns for the seventh Linfield run of the game.
Joshua Guterman came on for four shutout innings and gave up one hit and two walks. He picked up his first save of the season.
Carnahan, who will hand over the reins of the Linfield baseball program to 1998 World Series MVP and alumnus Scott Brosius, won 11 Northwest Conference championships and finished second on six other occasions. His teams won five straight NWC championships between 1992 and 1996.
He was named NWC Coach of the Year 11 times and NAIA District 2 Coach of the Year three times.
Permalink | Apr 30, 2007
Bridgewater shut out Hampden-Sydney 7-0 to claim the 2007 ODAC Championship.
In the ODAC tourney finals, Bridgewater (21-21) defeated Hampden-Sydney (25-18) for the second time in as many days, shutting out the Tigers 7-0 to claim the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship. The victory marked the 12th ODAC crown for the Eagles, tops in the conference all-time.
Right-hander Nolan Shaffer more than made amends for his rough outing on Friday night, returning the favor by tossing a complete game shutout, the first for him on the season. Shaffer (4-5), who gave up five runs in 2.1 innings in a 7-0 loss to HSC on Friday, allowed only two hits and a walk one in nine innings of work while fanning six.
The Eagles forced Hampden-Sydney starter Daniel Hadra from the game in the fourth inning, collecting eight hits and four runs (two earned) off the HSC righthander.
Bridgewater scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. With two down, Ricky Read singled back up the middle and moved to second when Andrew Chrismer reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. Michael Lenox followed with an RBI single to right field to bring in Read. Aaron Read blooped one over the second baseman's head for the third hit of the innings, driving in Chrismer from second for a 2-0 BC advantage.
The Eagles put another pair on the board in the fourth inning, chasing Hadra from the game. Bridgewater tacked on three more insurance runs in the eighth inning.
Ricky Read led all Bridgewater hitters with four hits including a pair of doubles. He also scored two runs. Jono Brooks had three hits and two RBI, and Chrismer, Aaron Read and Brad Buracker each had two hits.
The Eagles have a South Region record of 21-19 and must await the selection committee's determination of their seeding, two weeks from now.
Right-hander Nolan Shaffer more than made amends for his rough outing on Friday night, returning the favor by tossing a complete game shutout, the first for him on the season. Shaffer (4-5), who gave up five runs in 2.1 innings in a 7-0 loss to HSC on Friday, allowed only two hits and a walk one in nine innings of work while fanning six.
The Eagles forced Hampden-Sydney starter Daniel Hadra from the game in the fourth inning, collecting eight hits and four runs (two earned) off the HSC righthander.
Bridgewater scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. With two down, Ricky Read singled back up the middle and moved to second when Andrew Chrismer reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. Michael Lenox followed with an RBI single to right field to bring in Read. Aaron Read blooped one over the second baseman's head for the third hit of the innings, driving in Chrismer from second for a 2-0 BC advantage.
The Eagles put another pair on the board in the fourth inning, chasing Hadra from the game. Bridgewater tacked on three more insurance runs in the eighth inning.
Ricky Read led all Bridgewater hitters with four hits including a pair of doubles. He also scored two runs. Jono Brooks had three hits and two RBI, and Chrismer, Aaron Read and Brad Buracker each had two hits.
The Eagles have a South Region record of 21-19 and must await the selection committee's determination of their seeding, two weeks from now.
Permalink | Apr 30, 2007
Austin College defeated Millsaps 9-7 to win the SCAC Tournament
Austin College Kangaroos burst onto the SCAC scene with a solid 9-7 come-from-behind win over the Millsaps Majors on Sunday. Austin College defeated Millsaps, Rhodes and then Millsaps again in the SCAC Tourney to earn its first Division III Baseball Championship in its inaugural year in the SCAC. The SCAC-West #2 Roos had defeated Centre College two games to one last weekend.
Austin College RHP Senior Clint Rushing pitched 5 shutout innings as the Roos paced him to a 5-run lead. Millsaps hit 3 doubles and an single off Rushing in the top of the 6th to score four. Justin Frost came on for relief for AC. After giving up a run to AC in the bottom of the 6th, Millsaps took the lead, 7-6, on three runs, two earned, in the top of the 7th. AC scored one in the bottom of the 7th to tie and then two in the bottom of the 8th as Roo pitcher Will Chermak (7-3) pitched 2 hitless innings to earn the win.
Austin College Head Coach Carl Iwasaki was 2006 ASC-East Division Coach of the Year. This year, Coach Iwasaki has brought Austin College back with an 8-1 record in its last nine SCAC games to raise the Austin College West Region record to 22-20.
Millsaps and Rhodes now must await a Pool C bid. Since those two teams have finished their schedules, the Regional Rankings that will be released this week will give SCAC fans some idea as to whether two or more SCAC teams make the NCAA tourney.
Austin College RHP Senior Clint Rushing pitched 5 shutout innings as the Roos paced him to a 5-run lead. Millsaps hit 3 doubles and an single off Rushing in the top of the 6th to score four. Justin Frost came on for relief for AC. After giving up a run to AC in the bottom of the 6th, Millsaps took the lead, 7-6, on three runs, two earned, in the top of the 7th. AC scored one in the bottom of the 7th to tie and then two in the bottom of the 8th as Roo pitcher Will Chermak (7-3) pitched 2 hitless innings to earn the win.
Austin College Head Coach Carl Iwasaki was 2006 ASC-East Division Coach of the Year. This year, Coach Iwasaki has brought Austin College back with an 8-1 record in its last nine SCAC games to raise the Austin College West Region record to 22-20.
Millsaps and Rhodes now must await a Pool C bid. Since those two teams have finished their schedules, the Regional Rankings that will be released this week will give SCAC fans some idea as to whether two or more SCAC teams make the NCAA tourney.
Permalink | Apr 30, 2007
Josh Moore worked into the ninth Sunday for Wheaton (Mass.).
Seventh-ranked Wheaton will make a return to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons, as the top-seeded Lyons claimed their third consecutive New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Tournament championship and eighth in the league's nine-year history after downing fourth seed Babson College, 5-3 Sunday afternoon at Sidell Stadium.
In the semifinal round, fourth-seeded Babson collected 20 hits, and junior hurler Jeff Musante yielded one earned run on five hits during a complete-game effort to lift the Beavers past No. 3-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (13-13), 22-2 to advance to the championship game against Wheaton
The Lyon offense gave junior starter Josh Moore all the run support he'd need in the first three innings, as the hosts put up three runs in the second and a pair more in the third to take a 5-1 lead. Senior Travis Anthoine delivered the second frame's big blow with a two-run double to right center. Junior Jake Yagjian also knocked in a run.
Moore improved to 6-1 on the season after becoming Wheaton's third straight starter to pitch into the ninth in tournament play, as he fanned six and walked two with seven hits. Simmons earned his conference-leading sixth save of the season. Babson junior Robbie Leer was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, with two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings. Babson sophomore relief pitcher Pete Bizinkauskas, who entered the game in the second, kept the Beavers within striking distance, as he retired 14 batters in a row from the third through eighth innings.
Yagjian paced the Blue and White offense by going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Anthoine drove in a pair of runs and Martin scored twice. Sophomore Bryan Evans went 3-for-4 with a run for the Beavers, Collins was 2-for-4 with the RBI, and Campbell plated two runs while scoring one.
In the final game on Saturday, junior righthander Louie Bernardini pitched into the ninth with zero earned runs and five hits allowed while sophomore Robert Foote went 3-for-4 with two RBI, leading top seed Wheaton College to a 6-1 baseball victory against third-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Earlier, Wheaton posted a 2-0 opening game victory over Babson, while MIT advanced in the winner's bracket by outslugging Coast Guard 15-12. The Beavers eliminated the Bears 5-4 in 10 innings for the right to square off with MIT in an elimination round contest.
In the opening round on Thursday, third-seeded MIT, fourth-seeded Babson and seventh-seeded Coast Guard all advanced to the double elimination portion of the 2007 NEWMAC tournament by posting first round single elimination victories during play on Thursday afternoon. The Engineers shut out sixth-seeded Springfield 3-0, while the Beavers notched a 9-6 triumph over fifth-seeded Clark. The Bears pulled off the upset of the day by ousting second-seeded WPI by a 3-1 margin.
In the semifinal round, fourth-seeded Babson collected 20 hits, and junior hurler Jeff Musante yielded one earned run on five hits during a complete-game effort to lift the Beavers past No. 3-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (13-13), 22-2 to advance to the championship game against Wheaton
The Lyon offense gave junior starter Josh Moore all the run support he'd need in the first three innings, as the hosts put up three runs in the second and a pair more in the third to take a 5-1 lead. Senior Travis Anthoine delivered the second frame's big blow with a two-run double to right center. Junior Jake Yagjian also knocked in a run.
Moore improved to 6-1 on the season after becoming Wheaton's third straight starter to pitch into the ninth in tournament play, as he fanned six and walked two with seven hits. Simmons earned his conference-leading sixth save of the season. Babson junior Robbie Leer was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, with two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings. Babson sophomore relief pitcher Pete Bizinkauskas, who entered the game in the second, kept the Beavers within striking distance, as he retired 14 batters in a row from the third through eighth innings.
Yagjian paced the Blue and White offense by going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Anthoine drove in a pair of runs and Martin scored twice. Sophomore Bryan Evans went 3-for-4 with a run for the Beavers, Collins was 2-for-4 with the RBI, and Campbell plated two runs while scoring one.
In the final game on Saturday, junior righthander Louie Bernardini pitched into the ninth with zero earned runs and five hits allowed while sophomore Robert Foote went 3-for-4 with two RBI, leading top seed Wheaton College to a 6-1 baseball victory against third-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Earlier, Wheaton posted a 2-0 opening game victory over Babson, while MIT advanced in the winner's bracket by outslugging Coast Guard 15-12. The Beavers eliminated the Bears 5-4 in 10 innings for the right to square off with MIT in an elimination round contest.
In the opening round on Thursday, third-seeded MIT, fourth-seeded Babson and seventh-seeded Coast Guard all advanced to the double elimination portion of the 2007 NEWMAC tournament by posting first round single elimination victories during play on Thursday afternoon. The Engineers shut out sixth-seeded Springfield 3-0, while the Beavers notched a 9-6 triumph over fifth-seeded Clark. The Bears pulled off the upset of the day by ousting second-seeded WPI by a 3-1 margin.
Permalink | Apr 29, 2007
Western New England wins second straight GNAC crown
Top-seeded Western New England (25-8) captured its second straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference baseball tournament championship with an 11-2 victory over second-seeded Suffolk University Sunday afternoon at Holman Stadium. The Golden Bears, who have four games remaining in the regular season, earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, which begins in three weeks.
Senior third base player Josh Jacobs was named the Most Valuable player of the tournament. Senior pitcher Eric Smolin, junior shortstop Ryan Kravontka, and sophomore pitcher Jason Pizzoferrato were selected to the All-GNAC Tournament Team.
This was the Golden Bears' last appearance as a member of the conference. Next year Western New England College will compete in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Senior third base player Josh Jacobs was named the Most Valuable player of the tournament. Senior pitcher Eric Smolin, junior shortstop Ryan Kravontka, and sophomore pitcher Jason Pizzoferrato were selected to the All-GNAC Tournament Team.
This was the Golden Bears' last appearance as a member of the conference. Next year Western New England College will compete in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Permalink | Apr 29, 2007
Pacific Lutheran swept Puget Sound to wrap up its first-ever NWC Baseball championship.
On the final weekend of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season, the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens swept the series with the Caltech Beavers to clinch the SCIAC crown and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA regional tournament. The Sagehens finished the season with a conference record of 16-5. The University of La Verne had the chance for a co-championship, but lost to Whittier in game 3 of their series, 3-2, in 11 innings, to finish their conference season 15-6. Earlier in the season, Pomona-Pitzer had won the season series with La Verne 2-1.
Pomona-Pitzer has a West Region record of 23-8 and was ranked 6th in the first NCAA Division III West Regional Rankings released on April 26th. The Sagehens have completed their season with a record of 29-11 and await the notification of their seeding in the NCAA West Regional Tournament on May 16.
Also on Saturday, Pacific Lutheran swept Puget Sound by 10-4 and 16-2 scores to wrap up its first-ever Northwest Conference baseball championship. The Lutes, who improved to 31-7 overall and to 20-3 in the conference, host the Loggers (16-20-1, 13-10 NWC) in the final regular season game at noon on Sunday. No matter the outcome of that game, the Lutes have claimed the championship with George Fox finishing second at 19-5. With the championship comes the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA regional tournament. Ranked first in the NCAA Division III West Regional Rankings, George Fox is expected to join the Lutes in the NCAA regional tournament.
Pomona-Pitzer and Pacific Lutheran join Ferrum, the USA South Athletic Conference champion as the only teams to have qualified for the NCAA regional tournament.
Pomona-Pitzer has a West Region record of 23-8 and was ranked 6th in the first NCAA Division III West Regional Rankings released on April 26th. The Sagehens have completed their season with a record of 29-11 and await the notification of their seeding in the NCAA West Regional Tournament on May 16.
Also on Saturday, Pacific Lutheran swept Puget Sound by 10-4 and 16-2 scores to wrap up its first-ever Northwest Conference baseball championship. The Lutes, who improved to 31-7 overall and to 20-3 in the conference, host the Loggers (16-20-1, 13-10 NWC) in the final regular season game at noon on Sunday. No matter the outcome of that game, the Lutes have claimed the championship with George Fox finishing second at 19-5. With the championship comes the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA regional tournament. Ranked first in the NCAA Division III West Regional Rankings, George Fox is expected to join the Lutes in the NCAA regional tournament.
Pomona-Pitzer and Pacific Lutheran join Ferrum, the USA South Athletic Conference champion as the only teams to have qualified for the NCAA regional tournament.
Permalink | Apr 29, 2007
Adam Enloe struck out nine, leading Texas Lutheran to a 6-5 win over Mississippi College on Friday.
Texas Lutheran, McMurry, Texas-Dallas and University of the Ozarks advanced to the ASC Championship tournament to be hosted by Texas-Dallas.
Texas Lutheran defeated Mississippi College with a 17-6 win in the third and final game of the ASC divisional playoff series.
TLU (32-8-1) rebounded from a 4-3 loss to the Choctaws (17-25) in the first game Saturday. The Choctaw win forced a decisive game three and pushed the No. 8-ranked Bulldogs to the brink of elimination. TLU won Friday's first game of the series, 6-5.
TLU quickly fell behind 3-0 in the series finale before rallying for nine runs on eight hits in the bottom of the first inning. TLU sent 14 batters to the plate and received RBI from Joseph Brade, Jason Foley, Josh Moreno, Brandon Opheim, Ryan Nokelby and Jake Kaase.
Scott Matocha registered a hit in both games and pushed his hitting streak to 22 games. Matocha is one game shy of tying the school record of 23, set by Jess Gingrich in 1999.
Logan Hull (6-2) relieved TLU starter Kyle Newman to start the fifth inning and worked the rest of the game. Hull allowed just three hits in his five innings to record the victory.
Conner Douglas (2-7) took the loss for the Choctaws. Douglass retired just one batter in the first.
In Abilene, Texas, Louisiana College put a scare into McMurry, but it was short-lived and McMurry advanced to the championship round with a 14-4 win at Driggers Field Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats, playing as the home team due to ASC tournament rules, scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to put McMurry in an early hole. However, McMurry responded with five runs in the third and didn't allow another LC run to cross the plate.
McMurry starter Nick Schafer got off to a shaky start in the first as Trent Malbrough, Jeremy Trahan, and Hunter White each recorded RBI singles for the Wildcats. Walt McGee also scored Matt Smith on a groundout and Louisiana was out to an early 4-0 lead.
However, Hank Casey scored on a balk for McMurry's first run in the second inning. Then, Joseph Cervantez and Derek David each added two-run singles and the team never trailed. Schafer finished with six innings of work allowing 10 hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out three and won his ninth decision of the season. Schafer is now one win away from tying the school record for wins in a season.
Every McMurry starter had multiple hits except George Whitten and Weston Franco in McMurry's 21-hit performance. Steven Yurchick had his second four-hit game of the season, driving in two runs and scoring two.
Cervantez, Casey, Thomas Beckham and Nathan Love all had three hits. Derek David and Brent Voorhees each had two. David finished with two RBIs and Voorhees had a game-high three RBIs.
McMurry will head to the championship round of the tournament on the campus of Texas-Dallas to face the hosts.
For next week's hosts, it was a two-game sweep over Hardin-Simmons 4-0 and 9-7. Comet pitcher Mark Cox got the six-hit complete game shutout on Friday night. Comet center fielder Mitch Elliott's two-RBI single in the fourth inning gave Cox the lead he would never relinquish. In Game 2 on Saturday, UT-D's Drew Waggoner pitched 6.2 innings to improve his record to 6-1. Comet DH Trent Elizondo' two-run homer in the top of the 8th gave the Comets the cushion for Tim Flasik to earn his third save of the season.
In Clarksville, Ark., Mary Hardin-Baylor used one late-inning comeback to send the series to a third game, but the third game comeback fell short as the Cru was eliminated by ASC-East No. 2 seed University of the Ozarks. UMHB won game one 4-3 before falling 14-12 in the second game of the day. The Eagles improve to 24-19 on the year and will advance to take on Texas Lutheran.
UMHB used a three-run eighth-inning rally and an outstanding pitching performance from R.B. Garza to post a 4-3 victory to open the day. The Cru took a 1-0 lead on Adam Froeschl's solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. David Smith scored on a delayed steal attempt as the Eagles tied it at one in the third. John Glenn and Todd Koch hit RBI singles in the top of the eighth to give Ozarks a 3-1 lead. Steven Reinlie tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a mammoth two-run homer. Ricky LaFont and Jonathan Whitehead followed with singles to make it a 4-3 UMHB lead. Garza then shut down the Eagles in the top of the ninth to run his record to 6-4. He struck out five and walked two in a nine-hitter. John Schuering took the loss for Ozarks to drop to 3-2. LaFont was 3-for-4 for UMHB and Froeschl and Reinlie added two hits apiece for the Cru.
Both offenses were in high gear in a 14-12 Ozarks win in the second game. Robby Finnell's grand slam gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. LaFont singled home two runs in the bottom of the first to cut it to 4-2. Marcus Volz and Froeschl hit RBI singles in the second and Chase Beyrand added a two-run home run to give UMHB a 6-4 lead. Ozarks added four in the third with Glenn's two-run single being the biggest hit. The Eagles stretched the lead to 9-6 on David Isom's RBI single in the fourth. UMHB answered with four in the bottom of the fourth, as LaFont and Garza singled home runs and two more runs scored on an error to give UMHB a 10-9 lead. Froeschl added another RBI single in the sixth to give the Cru an 11-9 edge. Finnell came up big with a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to put the Eagles up 12-11.
After a pair of Ozarks runs, Reinlie crushed a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth and UMHB put two runners on base, but could not score again. Corey Dobbins took the loss for the Cru to drop to 3-2 on the year. Curt Dixon earned the win in relief for Ozarks to improve to 6-3 on the season.
The Eagles face Texas Lutheran on Friday, May 4, in the American Southwest Conference tourney.
Texas Lutheran defeated Mississippi College with a 17-6 win in the third and final game of the ASC divisional playoff series.
TLU (32-8-1) rebounded from a 4-3 loss to the Choctaws (17-25) in the first game Saturday. The Choctaw win forced a decisive game three and pushed the No. 8-ranked Bulldogs to the brink of elimination. TLU won Friday's first game of the series, 6-5.
TLU quickly fell behind 3-0 in the series finale before rallying for nine runs on eight hits in the bottom of the first inning. TLU sent 14 batters to the plate and received RBI from Joseph Brade, Jason Foley, Josh Moreno, Brandon Opheim, Ryan Nokelby and Jake Kaase.
Scott Matocha registered a hit in both games and pushed his hitting streak to 22 games. Matocha is one game shy of tying the school record of 23, set by Jess Gingrich in 1999.
Logan Hull (6-2) relieved TLU starter Kyle Newman to start the fifth inning and worked the rest of the game. Hull allowed just three hits in his five innings to record the victory.
Conner Douglas (2-7) took the loss for the Choctaws. Douglass retired just one batter in the first.
In Abilene, Texas, Louisiana College put a scare into McMurry, but it was short-lived and McMurry advanced to the championship round with a 14-4 win at Driggers Field Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats, playing as the home team due to ASC tournament rules, scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to put McMurry in an early hole. However, McMurry responded with five runs in the third and didn't allow another LC run to cross the plate.
McMurry starter Nick Schafer got off to a shaky start in the first as Trent Malbrough, Jeremy Trahan, and Hunter White each recorded RBI singles for the Wildcats. Walt McGee also scored Matt Smith on a groundout and Louisiana was out to an early 4-0 lead.
However, Hank Casey scored on a balk for McMurry's first run in the second inning. Then, Joseph Cervantez and Derek David each added two-run singles and the team never trailed. Schafer finished with six innings of work allowing 10 hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out three and won his ninth decision of the season. Schafer is now one win away from tying the school record for wins in a season.
Every McMurry starter had multiple hits except George Whitten and Weston Franco in McMurry's 21-hit performance. Steven Yurchick had his second four-hit game of the season, driving in two runs and scoring two.
Cervantez, Casey, Thomas Beckham and Nathan Love all had three hits. Derek David and Brent Voorhees each had two. David finished with two RBIs and Voorhees had a game-high three RBIs.
McMurry will head to the championship round of the tournament on the campus of Texas-Dallas to face the hosts.
For next week's hosts, it was a two-game sweep over Hardin-Simmons 4-0 and 9-7. Comet pitcher Mark Cox got the six-hit complete game shutout on Friday night. Comet center fielder Mitch Elliott's two-RBI single in the fourth inning gave Cox the lead he would never relinquish. In Game 2 on Saturday, UT-D's Drew Waggoner pitched 6.2 innings to improve his record to 6-1. Comet DH Trent Elizondo' two-run homer in the top of the 8th gave the Comets the cushion for Tim Flasik to earn his third save of the season.
In Clarksville, Ark., Mary Hardin-Baylor used one late-inning comeback to send the series to a third game, but the third game comeback fell short as the Cru was eliminated by ASC-East No. 2 seed University of the Ozarks. UMHB won game one 4-3 before falling 14-12 in the second game of the day. The Eagles improve to 24-19 on the year and will advance to take on Texas Lutheran.
UMHB used a three-run eighth-inning rally and an outstanding pitching performance from R.B. Garza to post a 4-3 victory to open the day. The Cru took a 1-0 lead on Adam Froeschl's solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. David Smith scored on a delayed steal attempt as the Eagles tied it at one in the third. John Glenn and Todd Koch hit RBI singles in the top of the eighth to give Ozarks a 3-1 lead. Steven Reinlie tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a mammoth two-run homer. Ricky LaFont and Jonathan Whitehead followed with singles to make it a 4-3 UMHB lead. Garza then shut down the Eagles in the top of the ninth to run his record to 6-4. He struck out five and walked two in a nine-hitter. John Schuering took the loss for Ozarks to drop to 3-2. LaFont was 3-for-4 for UMHB and Froeschl and Reinlie added two hits apiece for the Cru.
Both offenses were in high gear in a 14-12 Ozarks win in the second game. Robby Finnell's grand slam gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. LaFont singled home two runs in the bottom of the first to cut it to 4-2. Marcus Volz and Froeschl hit RBI singles in the second and Chase Beyrand added a two-run home run to give UMHB a 6-4 lead. Ozarks added four in the third with Glenn's two-run single being the biggest hit. The Eagles stretched the lead to 9-6 on David Isom's RBI single in the fourth. UMHB answered with four in the bottom of the fourth, as LaFont and Garza singled home runs and two more runs scored on an error to give UMHB a 10-9 lead. Froeschl added another RBI single in the sixth to give the Cru an 11-9 edge. Finnell came up big with a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to put the Eagles up 12-11.
After a pair of Ozarks runs, Reinlie crushed a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth and UMHB put two runners on base, but could not score again. Corey Dobbins took the loss for the Cru to drop to 3-2 on the year. Curt Dixon earned the win in relief for Ozarks to improve to 6-3 on the season.
The Eagles face Texas Lutheran on Friday, May 4, in the American Southwest Conference tourney.
Permalink | Apr 29, 2007
The ODAC Championship game will feature Bridgewater against the winner of the Lynchburg/Hampden-Sydney game.
Bridgewater (Va.) (20-21) made amends for its shutout loss to Hampden-Sydney (24-17) the night before, defeating the Tigers 13-5 to earn a spot in the title game of the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Baseball Championship. Bridgewater will face the winner of Hampden-Sydney and Lynchburg in a winner-take-all game at 4 p.m. EDT in Lynchburg.
In earlier action on Saturday, Bridgewater center fielder Mike Graves singled with one out in the 12th inning to drive in the winning run in a 4-3 victory over Virginia Wesleyan (23-17) ousting the regular season champion Marlins. The Lynchburg (23-17) offensive exploded against Washington and Lee (18-14), collecting 20 hits and scoring at least one run in each inning on the way to a 14-2 victory.
Washington and Lee kept its tournament championship hopes alive on Friday afternoon, eliminating Randolph-Macon (19-20-1) 12-5 in the second round of the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball championship.
In Game 5, Lynchburg (22-17) came back from a three-run deficit through five innings of play to defeat top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan (23-16). The win extends the Hornets season by at least one more game as they avoided an early elimination. Lynchburg's victory ensures that five teams would remain in the field to begin Saturday's contests.
In the Friday nightcap, Hampden-Sydney (24-16) starter Daniel Hadra scattered six hits through nine innings on the hill to put the Tigers in the driver's seat through the remainder of the tournament with a 7-0 win over Bridgewater (18-21).
On Thursday, Virginia Wesleyan put up five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to draw even with Randolph-Macon and eventually win the game, 7-6, with a run in the ninth to claim the opening game of the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball championship.
Hampden-Sydney put up three runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to provide the difference for the Tigers in a 7-3 victory over Washington and Lee.
Bridgewater right-hander Ricky Read out-dueled Lynchburg hurler Jason Kelly for a 2-1 complete game victory in the final first-round contest.
In earlier action on Saturday, Bridgewater center fielder Mike Graves singled with one out in the 12th inning to drive in the winning run in a 4-3 victory over Virginia Wesleyan (23-17) ousting the regular season champion Marlins. The Lynchburg (23-17) offensive exploded against Washington and Lee (18-14), collecting 20 hits and scoring at least one run in each inning on the way to a 14-2 victory.
Washington and Lee kept its tournament championship hopes alive on Friday afternoon, eliminating Randolph-Macon (19-20-1) 12-5 in the second round of the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball championship.
In Game 5, Lynchburg (22-17) came back from a three-run deficit through five innings of play to defeat top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan (23-16). The win extends the Hornets season by at least one more game as they avoided an early elimination. Lynchburg's victory ensures that five teams would remain in the field to begin Saturday's contests.
In the Friday nightcap, Hampden-Sydney (24-16) starter Daniel Hadra scattered six hits through nine innings on the hill to put the Tigers in the driver's seat through the remainder of the tournament with a 7-0 win over Bridgewater (18-21).
On Thursday, Virginia Wesleyan put up five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to draw even with Randolph-Macon and eventually win the game, 7-6, with a run in the ninth to claim the opening game of the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball championship.
Hampden-Sydney put up three runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to provide the difference for the Tigers in a 7-3 victory over Washington and Lee.
Bridgewater right-hander Ricky Read out-dueled Lynchburg hurler Jason Kelly for a 2-1 complete game victory in the final first-round contest.
Permalink | Apr 29, 2007
Sophomore Matt Loper couldn't prevent Wheaton from reaching its third consecutive NEWMAC Championship.
The MIT Engineers will play the Babson Beavers in an elimination game on Sunday. The winner advances to take on Wheaton, and if necessary, a second championship contest will be played immediately following.
In other action on Saturday, junior righthander Louie Bernardini pitched into the ninth with zero earned runs and five hits allowed while sophomore Robert Foote went 3-for-4 with two RBI, leading top seed Wheaton College to a 6-1 baseball victory against third-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Saturday afternoon's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinal round at Sidell Stadium.
Earlier, Wheaton posted a 2-0 opening game victory over Babson, while MIT advanced in the winner's bracket by outslugging Coast Guard 15-12. The Beavers eliminated the Bears 5-4 in 10 innings for the right to square off with MIT in an elimination round contest.
In the opening round on Thursday, third-seeded MIT, fourth-seeded Babson and seventh-seeded Coast Guard all advanced to the double elimination portion of the 2007 NEWMAC Baseball Championships by posting first round single elimination victories during play on Thursday afternoon. The Engineers shutout sixth-seeded Springfield 3-0, while the Beavers notched a 9-6 triumph over fifth-seeded Clark. The Bears pulled off the upset of the day by ousting second-seeded WPI by a 3-1 margin.
In other action on Saturday, junior righthander Louie Bernardini pitched into the ninth with zero earned runs and five hits allowed while sophomore Robert Foote went 3-for-4 with two RBI, leading top seed Wheaton College to a 6-1 baseball victory against third-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Saturday afternoon's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinal round at Sidell Stadium.
Earlier, Wheaton posted a 2-0 opening game victory over Babson, while MIT advanced in the winner's bracket by outslugging Coast Guard 15-12. The Beavers eliminated the Bears 5-4 in 10 innings for the right to square off with MIT in an elimination round contest.
In the opening round on Thursday, third-seeded MIT, fourth-seeded Babson and seventh-seeded Coast Guard all advanced to the double elimination portion of the 2007 NEWMAC Baseball Championships by posting first round single elimination victories during play on Thursday afternoon. The Engineers shutout sixth-seeded Springfield 3-0, while the Beavers notched a 9-6 triumph over fifth-seeded Clark. The Bears pulled off the upset of the day by ousting second-seeded WPI by a 3-1 margin.
Permalink | Apr 28, 2007