May 11, 2014

La Roche wins AMCC championship, automatic bid

More news about: La Roche
La Roche athletics photo

PITTSBURGH, PA --  Matt Sabatini smacked a 2-run single in the eighth inning to break up a tie game and bring La Roche their second AMCC Championship in three years. The 11-7 victory also clinches an automatic berth into their second NCAA Tournament.

Pitt-Greensburg carried the momentum they gained in their semifinal victory to grab an early 3-0 lead. The Redhawks responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and starting pitcher Jesse Bauer settled down and put together a strong start.

Luis Navedo drew a one out walk in the first and Brian Tougher followed with a double to the left field wall. Franzee Barlamas came up big again with a 2-run single to the right field gap to cut the deficit to one.

The Redhawks took their first lead of the game with three runs in the third inning. Colin Williamson led off the inning with a single and Navedo walked. Tougher laid down a bunt in the next at bat and hustled down the line to beat the throw. Barlamas tied it up with a sacrifice fly and Feikles provided a 2-run hit.

The Bobcats tied it up with a pair of runs in the seventh but Barlamas hit his first career homer to go up two. Pitt-Greensburg got two back in the eighth but Sabatini came through with the bases juiced and smoked a 2-run single to right field.

Bauer pitched a gutsy game and earned the final out of the championship. He tossed his third complete game of the season and registered his third win.

Barlamas capped off a stellar AMCC Tournament with a 4 for 4 performance including a home run, 5 RBI, and a run. Tougher had 3 hits, an RBI, and scored twice while Navedo doubled and scored three runs. Sabatini and Feikles both hit in two and Williamson scored twice.

La Roche Baseball will find out tomorrow morning where and what seed they are in the NCAA Tournament. In 2012, the Redhawks played at Marietta College in the Mideast Regional.