Jeff Donovan got UW-Whitewater off to a good start with a two-run triple in the first inning. Western New England photo by Larry Radloff

By Pat Coleman
D3sports.com

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – Jeff Donovan and UW-Whitewater took out their Friday frustrations on Saturday’s opponent and remained alive at the 2011 Division III baseball championships by defeating Western New England 8-3 in an elimination game.

Donovan, who gave up four runs in 6-1/3 innings and got a no-decision in Friday’s 6-5 loss to Buena Vista, got the Warhawks on the board in the first with a ringing two-run triple to right field, then added an RBI double in the sixth off the base of the 405 sign in right-center field.

"It was frustrating because I know how important getting the first win here is," Donovan said. "Everything is a little easier if you get that first win. Coming out here obviously it’s a do-or-die mentality. I think actually that kind of relaxes the guys a little bit, knowing that they can let it all hang out.

"It wasn’t just me, I think everyone played great today. It was a team effort."

Donovan was part of a group at the top of the Warhawks lineup that combined to go 6-for-14 with eight runs scored and four RBI. Daniel Putnam went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, Andrew Eichstaedt went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Rob Coe was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.

Justin Lambert (6-4) started and threw seven innings, giving up just three hits and two walks while allowing just two earned runs. Lambert had made just eight previous starts this season. The 26-year-old returned to UW-Whitewater this season after having been out of school following his freshman year in 2003.

“He’s, if not the oldest guy we have, he’s up there,” said UW-Whitewater coach John Vodenlich. “They only had showed one lefty in the lineup yesterday. They found another one between yesterday and today. He’s really pitched well down the stretch. We weren’t playing to stay here one more day, so (Riley) Tincher’s going to be in the mix of course, and we’re going to need them all to get through this thing.”

Western New England held the Warhawks in check after the three-run first inning. After eight Golden Bears had been retired in a row, Tim Clark and Ryan Dudzinski got hit by a pitch and walked to put two runners on. Lambert struck out Tony Trubia and got Mike Rubino to fly out before catcher Jason Leclerc hit a double to right field, driving in both runners to cut the lead to 3-2. But UW-Whitewater scored two in the sixth to take the lead and added three in the seventh to put the game away, while Western New England had runners on in the fifth and seventh inning but both were erased on double plays.

“Hats off to Whitewater, heck of a club, lot of really good athletes,” said Golden Bears coach Matt LaBranche.

“For us, we’re definitely going to walk away feeling like this is step one, that we can get back here, that we can compete, and that we can win a national championship someday.”