By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- Offense starts to dominate on the third day of the 2018 NCAA D-III College World Series at neuroscience group field at Fox Cities Stadium and the opening game was what was expected. Randolph-Macon broke a 5-5 game open with eight runs in the sixth and will advance with a 14-6 to the bracket title game with Texas-Tyler.
- World Series Day 3 schedule
- Pat and Jim wrap up Day 3 from Appleton
- Big inning stings Misericordia
- Texas Lutheran outlasts Swarthmore
- Randolph-Macon forces an extra game
- Feature: Zurowski's long journey to the mound
- Feature: TLU playing it all for KB
- World Series record book
- Photo galleries: Game 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
Cole Grinde matched a series record with two hits in the sixth inning, a double to open the frame and a two-RBI single, as the Yellow Jackets scored eight runs on five hits, three walks and a hit batter. The last time a player had two hits in an inning was in 2010 when it was done by Illinois Wesleyan's Jeff Grodecki.
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| Randolph-Macon catcher Reese Yeargain tags out Parker Abate as he tried to score on single to left. Photo by David Malamut, d3photography.com |
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| Cole Migliorini's first inning home run gave the Yellow Jackets an early lead but his two-run double was key in an eight-run uprising in the sixth inning. photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com |
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"I think that is what we have done most of the year," said Randolph-Macon coach Ray Hedrick. "We have been able to put together multiple at-bats, competitive at-bats and we get on somebody and get down pretty quick."
"We gave them all they could handle for the first five innings," said Misericordia coach Pete Egbert. "We just couldn't miss a barrel in the sixth."
RMC scored three in the first to grab the early lead. Jeff Butler started off where he left the last game with another single coming home on Cole Migliorini's home run. Rick Spiers walked and stole second to put himself in scoring position. Reece Yeargain's single to right field finished the first-inning scoring for the Yellow Jackets.
MC responded with two runs in the second. Steve Weisensee doubled to open the inning and Sean Lyons followed with a free pass by Matthew Nickles, the RMC starter. Sean Boylan's single to center plated the two batters.
Both Randolph-Macon and Misericordia added to their run totals in the third inning. Spiers reached base again, this time on a safety to center and scoed on Joseph Tuzzolo's double that skirted the first base bag. Tuzzolo scored on Cole Grinde's single and that ended the day for Elliot Forde, the MC starting pitcher. Kyle Melahn came in and got out of the inning when Matthew Nickles drive hit Grinde as he raced to second base. Weisensee's single to right scored Tyler Holzapfel after he reached base on his 18th double of the season.
A two spot in the fourth for MC tied the score at five-all. Consecutive errors by the left side fielders put runners on first and second. Parker Abate brought home one and Holzapfel plated the second. Abate came around to score and the umpire ruled the runner out. Replays showed the runner nicked the plate before the tag but the umpire's ruling held and the inning came to an end.
The Yellow Jackets scored eight in the sixth inning as they brought 12 players to the plate. Migliorini, Grindle, and Nickles each had two run hits as RMC broke the game open.
The Cougars also made some noise in the sixth but they were unable to get the big hit, leaving the bases loaded with the third out of the inning.
MC added a run in the seventh and RMC on Yeargain's bomb to left to complete the scoring.
Matthew Nickles earned the win and Melahn took the loss. Grinde led all hitters with four hits. Yeargain and Holzapfel had three. Migliorini drove in four with Yeargain and Grinde knocked in three. Spiers scored three runs.
"We are in a good position here," said Hedrick. "We are one of the final four teams remaining."
Misericordia ends its season with a 1-2 record in the World Series and a a 37-15 mark on the season.