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Aaron Hopper had a run-scoring double in Marietta's
six-run fourth inning. |
By Gary Flick for D3sports.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – Webster and Marietta combined for 13 runs in the fourth inning but the difference was that Marietta kept Webster off the scoreboard in the other innings. The Pioneers defeated Webster 12-7 in an elimination game in the Division III World Series on Memorial Day.
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A two RBI single by freshman Mitch Geers, who was a triple shy of the cycle, in the bottom of the first put the Pioneers ahead early and they were threatening again in the third but a highlight-reel catch by junior centerfielder Cody Stevenson ended the threat.
The Gorloks rode the energy from the Stevenson catch into the top of the fourth when they notched seven runs to take the lead. The inning began on a first pitch triple by Taylor Stoulp and Webster kept on rolling. After an error plated Stoulp, a Mike Rainbolt single brought in the second run. Another single by Mitchell Bonds brought Rainbolt in and then back to back singles from Dustin List and Kevin Kojs loaded the bases for a two RBI single by Charlie Gandolfi. When Stoulp came up to bat for the second time in the fourth, he sent an RBI double into left center. The Pioneers handed the Gorloks one more run with a bases loaded plunking of Alex Kazmierski and then threw a timely strikeout to end the inning with the bases loaded.
It didn’t take the Pioneers long to bounce back though as they took advantage of a walk, a hit batter, and a misplayed fly ball by launching two sacrifice flies to cut the lead to 4-7. The rally continued with two outs as Kirby Becker scored all the way from first on an Aaron Hopper double down the left field line. After a Mitch Geers RBI double plated hopper, Webster walked the bases loaded but the rally was halted by a 35 minute rain delay.
“We had a lot of momentum and their guy was struggling so we didn’t think the rain delay would be beneficial to us,” said Marietta head coach Brian Brewer. “Then Alex hit the ball and we thought it was pretty beneficial.”
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Fun Fact from the Record Book Webster's Kevin Kojs has a record setting tournament. His nine consecutive hits set a new Division III World Series record, besting the previous record of seven. Brendan Chiavaro, Cortland State set the record in 2001 and it was tied by Steve Nickel, also of Cortland State, in 2010. Kevin Kojs batted .750 (9-for-12) for Webster but it was not enough to eclipse the record set by Chris D’Amato of Eastern Connecticut. D'Amato batted .786 in the 1998 Division III World Series. |
The at-bat Brewer was referring to was a two RBI double by Alex Toth that brought home the tying and go ahead run. With 35 minutes to prepare for a bases loaded at bat in the World Series, there is a lot for Toth to think about.
“I tried to not even think about it [in the dugout],” said Toth “I put it out of my mind and treated it like any other at bat.”
After the crazy fourth, both relief pitchers settled in. Marietta reliever Kyle Lindquist pitched an outstanding 4 2/3 allowing only four hits and shutting down the Gorloks until closer Austin Blaski came in to finish out the game.
The Pioneers put up two more in the sixth on a Evan Brockmeier RBI double and a Bryan Gregorich single to plate Brockmeier. A Geers leadoff inside-the-park home run and an RBI single by Gregorich gave the Pioneers their insurance runs in the eighth.
Webster’s Kevin Kojs broke a College World Series record when he knocked his ninth consecutive hit in the fourth inning, but it was bittersweet as Webster heads home early in their first ever appearance in the Division III World Series.
Despite Wheaton and St. Thomas still playing, we already know who each team will be playing tomorrow. Here's the breakdown: