Concordia University-Chicago (Ill.) 8, UW-Whitewater 7La Crosse, Wis. - Concordia University-Chicago (Ill.) stayed alive in dramatic fashion Saturday at the NCAA Division III Baseball Midwest Regional with an 8-7 walk-off win over UW-Whitewater at Copeland Park. The Cougars improve to 33-14 on the season and advance to play UW-La Crosse Saturday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game. UW-Whitewater, the defending national champion, finishes its season at 35-11.
UW-Whitewater took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning with an Adam Gregory double to center scoring Daytona Bryden and Casey Power. Mike Mierow singled to center to score Power making it 3-0 while advancing to second on the throw home. After a Will Helbing single moved the runner to third, Mierow scored on a Nick Kuhlman single to left to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Warhawks added a run in the home half of the fifth on a Mikole Pierce solo home run to give them a 5-0 advantage.
Kuhlman led-off the top of the seventh with a solo home run giving UW-Whitewater a 6-0 lead. Cannon doubled to center and moved to third on a fly ball out later in the inning. He then beat the throw home on an infield grounder by Chamberlain to extend it to 7-0.
Concordia-Chicago (Ill.) finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Kevin Coppin walked, advancing Doug Matthews to second, who had reached earlier on a fielder's choice. Thomas Gier singled up the middle to load the bases and Matthews came across when Joe Silva was hit-by-pitch, putting the Cougars on the board at 7-1. Coppin scored on a failed pick-off throw to first base to cut the lead to 7-2.
The Cougars made it 7-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Steve Zubrzychi doubled to center to start the frame, and Brent Spohr hit a one-out single to put runners on first and second. On a grounder to short, Zubrzychi was able to score from second after a throwing error by the Warhawks' second baseman, who was attempting a throw to first to complete the double play.
Concordia-Chicago (Ill.) rallied for five runs, all coming with two outs, in the bottom of the ninth. Brendan Klein singled down the right field line to open the inning and advanced to second after a groundout. After a fly out for the second out of the inning, three consecutive walks allowed a run to score, making it 7-4. Donnie Manke came in to pitch for UW-Whitewater, and a balk on an attempted pick-off over to first cut the lead to 7-5 as Zubrzychi scored and moved the other runners to second and third. Mitch Wilson then doubled to center field, driving in Carlos Olavarria and pinch-runner Kevin Garvey to tie the game at 7-7. Matthews then singled to left center with Wilson beating the throw to the plate for the 8-7 victory.
Nick Barnhill (1-1) picked up the win for Concordia-Chicago (Ill.), giving up two hits and one walk while striking out one over 2.2 innings. C.J. Selner started for the Cougars, going 1.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs and one walk with one strikeout. Alex Meyers pitched 5.0 innings in relief, allowing four hits, three runs and two walks while striking out two.
Zubrzycki and Spohr each finished 2-for-4 with Zubrzycki scoring twice. Wilson had two RBI.
Manke (1-2) took the loss for UW-Whitewater, giving up a run and two hits without retiring a batter. Mike Nompleggi started for the Warhawks, going 6.2 innings, allowing five hits ,two runs (one earned) and two walks with one strikeout.
Kuhlmann went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run while Cannon finished 2-for-5 with a run scored. Helbing finished 2-for-3 while Gregory had two RBI.
