Austin Blaski threw seven dominant innings for
Marietta, with Chapman needing help to reach him for two runs. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- Austin Blaski was dominant on the mound as
Marietta defeated Chapman 9-4 in Day 2 of the Division III Baseball
Championship. Blaski had eight strikeouts and overcame two errors
of his own to advance Marietta to the winners bracket final,
scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sunday night.
"We consider ourselves fortunate to come out with a win," said
Marietta coach Brian Brewer. "we cannot afford to make that many
mistakes against a team like Chapman and come out ahead."
"We knew it would be a tough game," said Chapman head coach Tom
Tereschuk. "It was a tight game until the end and we let it get
away from us in the ninth."
Marietta started the scoring in the second. Tim Saunders hit an
infield single and scored on Hopper's triple to right center.
Hopper scored on Casey Levens' groundout to give the Pioneers a 2-0
lead.
Chapman made it 2-1 without the benefit of a hit. Tyler Surnbrock
was hit by Blaski. Troy Newman sacrificed Surnbrock to second. On
an attempted pickoff, Surnbrock moved to third and scored on a
Blaski wild pitch.
The Pioneers tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Braden Park
walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sigman hit Alex
Toth to put two men on base. Kirby Becker followed with a single to
right, scoring Park. The Chapman rightfielder attempted a play at
the plate and when catcher Adam Kordich threw wildly to second, he
allowed Toth to score.
Chapman cut the margin to 4-2 in the seventh. Charlie Piro was hit
by Blaski and moved to third on Toth's throwing error. Steve
Greenberg's single to center plated Piro.
Marietta score four insurance runs in the ninth. Becker's single
to center drove in Toth and Grilliot, Saunders' triple scored
Becker and Ryan Hopper followed with a run scoring single to
complete the scoring for Marietta. Chapman score two unearned runs
in the ninth as Parr scored on a wild pitch and Piro scored on a
Greenberg single.
Blaski pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, neither of which
was earned. Kyle Lindquist pitched the final two innings, allowing
two unearned runs for the save, the first in the championship
round. Sigman was charged with the loss. He allowed seven runs, six
earned, on nine hits in 8.1 innings. Justin Hanks pitched to five
batters in the ninth, allowing two runs.
Hopper was 3-for-3 with two RBI to spark the Marietta offense.
Saunders, Becker and Snyder also had multiple hit games for
Marietta. Becker was 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs. Saunders and Snyder both
had two hits in the game. Parr and Greenberg had two hits for the
Panthers.
"I have been trying to to work on my approach and seeing the ball
real deep," said Hopper. "It worked and I got a couple of key
hits."
Chapman, with its first loss of the tournament, will play
UW-Whitewater at noon on Sunday.
Rauh injury update: The injury to Brian Rauh on
Friday appears to be a muscle strain and not a ligament
injury. According to the Chapman head coach, he is getting
treatment and is day-to -day for the tournament. "We will be
cautious with him," said Tereschuk.