EASTLAKE, Ohio — Down 5-1 after four innings to No. 10 Baldwin Wallace, No. 11 East Texas Baptist University chipped their way back into the game on clutch hitting and gritty pitching as the Tigers advanced on in the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series, 7-6, over the Yellow Jackets. ETBU scored three in the fifth inning and took the lead in the eighth inning with two runs while adding an insurance run in the ninth inning. The Tigers finished with 11 hits, with three doubles, and recorded nine strikeouts between four pitchers.
"What a ballgame. These guys left their hearts out on the field today. Both teams did. Baldwin Wallace's pitcher did an incredible job. Their offense is really talented and really good. They had us on the ropes there for a while but we battled back and I very pleased with the effort these boys gave today," said head coach
Jared Hood.
Matthew Irwin came in relief and pitched 2 2/3 innings for the win with five strikeouts while
Aiden Leonard received the save for 2/3 inning of work.
Irwin added, "This year hasn't gone the way that I would have wanted it to but that doesn't matter to me. I want these guys and the rest of the team and as long as we are winning that is all that I want. As far as my performance goes, all I wanted to was help these guys win. Whatever I can do to help. These guys keep me going. I am never going to give up and I am always going to give what I have for these guys."
Carson Livesay scored three runs while also collecting two hits and a walk.
Carter Nannini drove in three runs with two hits.
Kahne Nolen crossed the plate twice and added two hits, including a double.
Justin Flannery added two RBIs with one hit.
Joaquin Costa added a RBI.
Tyler Bogusz started the game pitching 2 1/3 innings while allowing three earned runs on three hits.
Jake Schumacher followed with 3 1/3 innings of relief, giving up two earned runs on three hits, while striking out four batters. Irwin followed for the win on a strong 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out five. Leonard closed out the game, pitching 2/3 of an inning to secure the save.
Hood said on Irwin, "Irwin has been through the ringer this year and hasn't had a whole lot of success, but he is a leader and he is a grinder. When the game is on the line, especially in the situation he was in today, for him to put the team on his back and to hold Baldwin Wallace to what he did and to give us a chance to come back and score some runs, that is a testament to who he is as a competitor and as a person. He could have cashed it in on us earlier in the year when he wasn't having any success, but that is not who he is. We owe a lot today to
Matthew Irwin for his effort on the mound."
ETBU opened the scoring in the first inning when Livesay singled, advanced on a steal and error, and then scored on Nannini's groundout for the 1-0 lead. Baldwin Wallace responded in the second inning with a run scored on a wild pitch.
In the third inning, Baldwin Wallace added two runs. Matt Terzola and Sean Kolenich singled, and Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider followed with an RBI single. A walk loaded the bases, and another walk brought in a run, making it 3–1 in favor of Baldwin Wallace.
A two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 5-1.
The Tigers, though, rallied in the fifth inning. Nolen doubled and scored on Ortigoza's single. Nannini then delivered a two-RBI single to centerfield to cut the lead to one, 5-4.
ETBU rallied in the eighth inning for a one-run lead, 6-5.
Jobee Boone doubled, followed by a single from Nolen. Flannery followed with a one-out double driving in both runners to put the Tigers ahead 6–5.
The ninth inning saw ETBU extend their advantage when Livesay singled and scored on Costa's groundout, making it 7–5. Baldwin Wallace added one more run in the bottom of the ninth on a double, but the Tigers held on for a 7–6 victory.
They advance on in the winner's bracket and will play on Monday, June 1, at 9:00 a.m. CST against the winner of the Baldwin Wallace/Denison game.
ETBU Top Performers
Carson Livesay
- 3 runs
- 2 hits
- 1 stolen base
Carter Nannini
- 3 RBIs
- 2 hits
Justin Flannery
- 2 RBIs
- 1 hit
- 1 double
Matthew Irwin
- 5 strikeouts
- 2 2/3 innings pitched
