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| Ben Podobinski went 3-for-4
for St. Thomas, including a drag bunt single in the eighth
inning. d3photography.com photo by Larry Radloff |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- In a see-saw game, it was the little hits that proved to be the difference in Game 7 of the 2014 NCAA Division III World Series
"It was playoff baseball right there," said St.Thomas coach
Chris Olean. "We did not get off to the greatest start but we found
a way to win. That's our motto."
"The formula is simple, good pitching, good defense and
eliminating the amount of freebies that we give them" said Baldwin
Wallace coach Brian Harrison. "We are excited to lace them up
tomorrow and get back at it."
The Tommies took their first lead of the game, in the sixth inning
utilizing "small ball." Shortstop Brady Johnson was hit by a
pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After advancing to
third on a fly ball to center, scored on center fielder Ben
Podobinski's single through the right side of the defense.
Postgame news conferences |
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"Producing in that part of the order was big." said Olean. "We
wanted to move the runner and Podobinski came up with a huge
single."
Baldwin Wallace opened the scoring in the second inning. Center
fielder John Taylor reached on a fielders choice and moved to
second on a failed pickoff by St. Thomas starter, Colin Wendinger.
Taylor scored on right fielder Alex Green's single to right
field.
"Scoring first is important," said Harrison. "Sixty-five percent
of the games are won by the team that scores first and we like
those odds."
St. Thomas evened up the score in the third inning. Podobinski
singled up the middle and moved to third on designated hitter
Waylon Bemboom's single. Left fielder Tim Kuzniar's hit plated
Podobinski.
"We found a way to answer but it does not have to be the same
guy," said Olean. "It is a differnt guy every day."
Baldwin Wallace moved back on top with Kyle Chontos' second hit
of the series, a gap hit that brought Mark Zimmerman home. The
Yellow Jackets made it 3-1 with shortstop Eric Murphy's single to
left field.
St. Thomas answered with a pair of their own in the fifth.
Podobinski walked and scored on third baseman Jack Hogan's triple
down the left field line. Cory Waite hurt his cause with a wild
pitch that allowed Hogan to scamper home.
The Tommmies added an insurance run in the seventh. Catcher J.D.
Dorgan singled, the 200th hit in his St. Thomas career, and stole
second. Dorgan scored from second when the Baldwin Wallace first
baseman made a bad throw to the pitcher on an infield grounder.
Dorgan's run put the Tommies up 5-3.
Baldwin Wallace did not concede anything in the ninth inning, with
a run scoring single by designated hitter Hunter Handel. The Yellow
Jackets failed to get the equalizer despite having a runner in
scoring position with one out.
"We have tough kids," said Harrison. "Offensively these guys compete."
Wendinger started the game, going five innings of seven hit ball with three runs, two earned. Jacob Nelson (1-1) earned the win in relief in his ninth appearance of the season. Nelson pitched three shutout innings, allowing three hits. Tommy Danczyk pitched the final inning for his 11th save.
Podobinski led the Tommies offense with three hits with Hogan getting two hits. Podobinski scored twice.
Cory Waite (7-3) took the loss for Baldwin Wallace giving up four runs (all earned) on six hits in six innings. Cory Durbin pitched the final two innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits.
Handel led all batters with four hits on the day. Mark Zimmerman chipped in three hit, scoring twice for the Yellow Jackets.
St. Thomas will play the winner of the final game at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday with Baldwin Wallace facing Southern Maine at noon CT.