| Connor Dillman earned the win
as Emory stayed alive in the 2014 D-III World
Series. d3photography.com photo by Larry Radloff |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- Emory knocked out Aaron Thomassen, Linfield's starter in the first inning and went on to a 8-5 win in Game 5 of the 2014 NCAA Division III World Series from Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.
The loss eliminated the 2013 national champion Wildcats.
"The key today was getting into the counts," said Emory coach
Mike Twardoski. "We got into good counts and put some good swings
on the ball. All and all, a good game. Hopefully we will keep this
moving."
Emory took advantage of four walks in the first inning to score
three runs as Thomassen faced eight batters before pulled in favor
of Zach Manley. Right fielder Brandon Hannon's one out double was
followed by three walks and a run scoring single by catcher Jared
Welch to put the Eagles ahead 2-0. A sacrifice fly by third baseman
Philip Maldari completed the scoring for Emory in the first.
"It is nice to have big innings, especially nice to have them at
the beginning of the game," said Eagles starting pitcher Connor
Dillman (10-1). "When we get these innings, I just need to make
sure I shut them down."
Emory continued to add to its lead. The Eagles added two runs in
the second with run scoring singles by left fielder Brett Lake and
Welch. In the fifth, Emory manufactured a run without the benefit
of a hit to extend their lead to six runs.
Postgame news conferences |
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Feature: The Sombrero Guy |
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Linfield had their opportunities to cut into Emory's lead but was unable to get the key hit until the sixth inning. Linfield stranded seven base runners before shortstop Corey VanDomelen's two out single in the sixth inning plated two runs. Matt Mahon came in to relieve Connor Dillman and ended the inning on a groundout to short.
"We had some opportunities and with a few key hits, this was a
winnable game," said Brosius. "We were just unable to get the
timely hits we needed."
Both teams scored single runs in the seventh with Emory scoring
one on a passed ball in the eighth.
In bottom of the eighth inning, Linfield made a bid to tie the
game with two runs already in, left fielder Jo Carroll came to the
plate representing the tying run. Emory countered with their
closer, Kyle Monk, and Monk ended Linfield's threat, striking out
Carroll with a change-up.
Linfield had one more chance in the ninth inning but Monk closed
out the game for his sixth save of the year.
Linfield becomes the first defending national champion to return
to Appleton but go 0-2 since Kean did so in 2008.
"We are very disappointed to be in this position," said Brosius.
"We were not the best version of ourselves and in this type of
competition there is little margin of error. Unfortunately we
picked the wrong two days to not play our best baseball."
"When I came to Linfield I did not know how I would fit," Linfield
senior Nick Fisher said, saying he was essntially a walk-on. "We
over came the odds to do what we did last year. It is an experience
I would not trade for anything in the world."
On Sunday, Emory will play the loser of the game between Cortland
and UW-Whitewater. That game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT.
Linfield ends its season at 37-9.