By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- Blake Maddox homered to break a 4-4 tie and both teams struggled on defense, making routine plays look adventuresome in a 10-5 win for Texas-Tyler over Oswego State in the opening game of the 2018 NCAA D-III College World Series at neuroscience group field at Fox Cities Stadium.
- D-III World Series team-by-team preview
- Pat and Jim wrap up Day 1 from Appleton
- Defenses scuffle as UTT takes Game 1
- Game 2: Miseri leaves Macon stranded
- Game 3: Cougars maul Swarthmore
- Game 4: Wooster gets bulldogged
- World Series Day 1 scoreboard
- World Series Day 2 schedule
- World Series record book
- Photo galleries: Game 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
The win put Tyler, a first-time Division III World Series participant, into the winners bracket in Bracket 1 against the winner of Game 2 between Misericordia and Randolph-Macon.
"We did a great job about putting on runs," said Texas-Tyler coach Brent Porche. "We feel good about getting that first one under our belt."
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| Texas-Tyler third baseman Blake Wilson slid home safely in the first inning with the Patriots' third run of the inning. Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com |
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| Simon Sedillo pitched a complete game, saving arms in the bullpen that are still in need of rest after the Patriots' Monday wins in the Central Regional. photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com |
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"We played defensively very well down the stretch," said Oswego coach Scott Landers."This happens. We played good defense from that point but our pitchers did not have their best stuff today."
"Obviously we are riding a high after the regional," said Porche. "There is always a little bit of nerves. I think that showed a bit as we made some defensive mistakes we don't typically make. Offensively we gave ourselves some breathing room."
In the opening inning, errors lead to runs as Texas-Tyler took a 3-2 lead.
UTT's Tanner Roach got the games first hit with a single to center but was erased on a fielders choice. Alex Bishop's infield hit put runners on first and second with two outs. Blake Wilson's grounder was misplayed as Josh Burns crossed the plate. Bowie Farris's safety to center plated two.
"I had been struggling at the regional," said Farris. "I wanted to stay up the middle, it does not take too much to score those two runs."
"Any time you can put some runs on the board early," said Porche. "You take a little pressure off the defense and pitcher."
Oswego responded with two of their own as John Barnes tripled to right center, scoring Brandon Nicholson. Barnes scored on an infield single by Myles Kutscher to finish the inning.
The Patriots loaded the bases in the second with three singles and added to the score with a run on a wild pitch by Oswego starter Robert Donnelly.
Oswego knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning. Nicholson walked and came around to score when Michael Dellicarr's drive to left skipped under the fielder's glove. Dellicarr scored from second on Barnes second triple of the game. Barnes two triples ties a World Series record that was last done by Aurora's Justin Smith in 2004.
Blake Maddox's home run over the left field wall proved to be the winning run for the Patriots as they retook the lead with the leadoff hitter in the top of the fourth inning. A second run was manufactured to take the Patriot's lead back to two.
"I got the pitch I wanted," said Maddox. "I thought it was going foul but the wind said otherwise."
Tyler added two runs in the seventh before Oswego's Nicholson hammered a Simon Sedillo pitch over the left field wall.
"I thought we lost a little life in the couple innings before," said Nicholson. "We made it a three-run game so everyone started to feel the momentum shifting."
Graham Welsh too care of that momentum shift with a mammoth home run in the ninth to right that the Oswego right fielder saw the ball and their chances for a win sail over the outfield wall.
Roach led all hitters with three hits and Welch with four RBIs. Oswego's Nicholson had three runs score. Five Patriots and two Lakers had two hits in the game.
Sedillo earned the complete game win to move to 8-3. He allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks. He struckout three. Donnelly took the loss with six runs (three earned) on 11 hits and a walk. He struck out 20 in six innings. Nick Antonello gave up four runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in 2.1 innings. Brad Wroblewski finished the game, retiring both batters he faced.
Texas-Tyler moves on to face the winner of Randolph-Macon and Misericordia, where Oswego will take on the loser.
"We just have to fight," said Landers. "Our backs are against the wall and we just have to go. We got to come out with a W tomorrow."