Jon Capadona threw six innings of relief and Baldwin Wallace's offense scratched together enough runs to make him a winner. d3photography.com photo by Larry Radloff

By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Jon Capadona pitched six strong innings in relief as Baldwin Wallace won 5-4 over Emory in Game 2 of the 2014 NCAA Division III World Series from Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.

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"You are only as good as your pitchers allow you to be and we had a great performance by Capadona who came in and stopped the bleeding," said Baldwin Wallace coach Brian Harrison. "Five more innings of shutout baseball was awesome. That's why we won the ballgame."

"Our hitters were very uncofortable at the plate," said Emory coach Mike Twardoski. "What you saw was not a typical Emory baseball game."

Baldwin Wallace opened up the scoring in the second. Designated hitter Hunter Handel and catcher Joe Hiller opened the inning with singles to right. A error on the first baseman loaded the bases for left fielder Jerry Scholle. His single to center field scored the Yellow Jacket's first run. A double play turned by Emory brought home their second run of the inning.

Emory answered the bell in their half of the second. The Eagles opened the inning with four straight singles. With one run already in, Jack Karras walked to force in catcher Jared Welch to tie the score. Center fielder Wes Peacock's two run double put Emory up 4-2.

"It was great to have them pick me up after giving up two runs and then come back and score four," said Emory starter Jackson Weeg. "Being up 4-2 was a whole new ball game."

Capadona entered the game with runners on second and third and with two strikeouts and a pop-up keeping the Yellow Jackets two runs down. Capadona proceeded to shut down Emory off through the seventh inning.

"I did not try to strike people out," said Capadona. "I tried to stay relaxed, to do the same things we have done all year: focus on what makes us good and execute on every pitch.

Baldwin Wallace tied the score with two runs in the seventh. Singles by shortstop Eric Murphy, Scholle and pinch hitter Cole Nieto loaded the bases. third baseman Eric Gugliotta singled to center, scoring two runs. Kyle Gillissie, pinch running for Nieto, tried to reach third but a strong throw from Peacock to Third baseman Phillip Maldari ended the inning.

Baldwin Wallace scored the winning run in the eight inning. Catcher Joe Hiller singled to center field, driving in second baseman Mark Zimmerman, who doubled to start the inning.

"I just wanted to keep competing and try to use the middle of the field," said Hiller. "The pitcher threw me a couple of sliders and I got enough of one to get it out to center."

Baldwin Wallace will play st. Thomas in the 4:30 p.m. game on Saturday. Emory will play in the 10 a.m. contest with Linfield.

"Playing one game at a time is all you can do," said Twardoski. "Don't worry about the big picture of the World Series. We have enough pitching and our hitters can get into a flow.  All we can do is comeback and play well."