MARIETTA, Ohio - LaRoche still has a tough road if it wants to win the 2012 NCAA Mideast Regional, but Thursday's 3-2 victory over Westminster is still a monumental victory for the program.
"This is just the beginning for us and this is what we needed to sell some different things to recruits and hopefully this will pick up some momentum from here," said LaRoche coach Chase Rowe, who is in his seventh season.
Rowe's young players may not appreciate the impact the win could have on the long-term outlook for the Redhawks, but they were certainly pleased to not be the first team to go home.
"We didn't talk about it, but there's not a player here who wants to go 0-2," said first baseman Dan Burns. "We've had a refuse to lose attitude since about midway through the season."
After opening the season 2-9, LaRoche has gone 23-9 and won its first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship. That experience came in handy against Westminster (28-17).
Trailing 2-0 and unable to muster much offense against Westminster starter Patrick Mulligan, it appeared the Redhawks season could be coming to a close. But Mulligan fell behind some hitters and LaRoche capitalized with three runs in the eighth.
"The pitchers were both dominating through the first few innings, so you really have to focus on defense and hope it comes around on offense when you need it," Burns said.
It started with second baseman Shane Healey opened the inning with a double, followed by a single from right fielder Casey Zimmerman. Healey scored on third baseman Brian Tougher's sacrifice fly.
Designated hitter Ryan Fennell kept the pressure on Mulligan by singling and advancing to second on a throwing error that also allowed Zimmerman to score. Tied at 2-2, Burns picked up his only hit of the game and he drove in Fennell with the go-ahead run.
"Our approach all year has been to go opposite field. … Honestly I just cleared my head and focused on seeing the ball and square it up good," Burns said. "He fell behind to me and I was sitting fast ball and I knew he had to throw a strike. It helped seeing him and learning his motion."
The comeback allowed Jesse Bauer to pick up his fourth win of the season by throwing three scoreless innings.
"Mostly it was the defense picking me up. … I threw strikes and the defense did what it needed to do," Bauer said. "We were fighting to get back in the game and we felt we would get some runs and play another day."
His coach was more complimentary of Bauer's performance.
"He was our starter last year and half of the year this year, and then we put him in as our closer role," Rowe said. "Since we've put him in that situation he's been pretty much lights out for us."
Rowe didn't overlook the strong showing that starter Cole Lentz gave. Lentz allowed five hits and two earned runs through six innings.
"He's been banged up here down the stretch so he's really worked hard to get himself into shape," Rowe said. "He's definitely not pitching with his best stuff, he didn't strike anyone out and he didn't really miss that many bats. He came out and battled. He's one of our best guys on the staff."
For Westminster coach Carmen Nocera, Thursday's loss ended a 14-year career with the baseball program.
"I'm very honored and humbled to have been a college head coach at a great institution like Westminster," he said. "No regrets. I have nothing to look back on but fond memories."
LaRoche is back in action at 1 p.m. Friday against the loser of the Adrian-Manchester game.