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| Austin Clock was on base three times and had two RBI as part of a 15-hit attack for the Red Dragons. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com |
Postgame news conferences |
By Pat Coleman
D3baseball.com
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – If this is truly to be a best-of-three championship series, then UW-La Crosse had better quickly shake off its worst-of-tournament performance as Cortland State defeated the Eagles 11-3 in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
The Eagles, who needed to use No. 1 starter Ben Cjeka just to get into the championship round, had to come back with Shane Adler to start Game 1, their second game of the day. Adler, better known as the Eagles’ starting first baseman, had thrown just 13-1/3 innings entering the game.
On top of that, with Adler on the mound, the Eagles’ defense suffered as well, as designated hitter Justin Anderson took over at first base and was unable to pick two short-hopped throws from third baseman Eric Vatch in the first inning, helping Cortland to a 2-0 lead. Adler walked two batters in the second and another infield error on a hard-hit ball brought them home as part of a three-run rally.
Meanwhile, Red Dragons starter Brandon McClain "might have emptied my tanks," as he put it, throwing the final game of his career. Pitching with an injured shoulder, McClain went 5-1/3 innings, allowing six hits and striking out four.
“I think I just went out there and gave it my all,” said McClain. “I knew it was probably going to be the last time I ever pitched, so I just wanted to give them my best start and see where we went from there.”
"This kid’s special. This kid is pitching hurt," Cortland coach Joe Brown said, puasing with emotion. "What he did tonight might be one of the most memorable games I ever coached. This young man has a shredded shoulder, his throwing shoulder.
"We weren’t sure if he’d pitch again after the regionals. Honestly up until last night when we knew he could throw. Literally hasn’t picked up a ball since the regionals until two days ago."
The Eagles chipped away at the lead a couple of times, turning a one-out and a two-out walk into two runs when Travis Buxton-Verstegen and Joel Zyhowski came up with RBI singles. That cut the lead to 5-2. They added one in the seventh off reliever Tyler Brien when Justin Anderson ripped a ball off the wall in left-center, about 380 feet from home plate, bringing Taylor Kohlwey around after he’d reached on a single deep in the hole at short.
But just as UW-La Crosse seemed to open the door a crack, Cortland slammed it shut. The No. 1-ranked Red Dragons (44-4) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Conrad Ziemendorf went opposite field for an RBI single for one of his four hits, Cortland scored on a double steal and added another on a ringing double down the right-field line by Austin Clock.
“He has an 0-2 pitch and takes that ball the other way," Brown said. "It’s very unselfish hitting right now. That’s a huge at-bat for Conrad.”
“It’s really just one person to the next," Ziemendorf explained. "You gotta do your job to get to the next guy. I knew I was not going to go down without a fight, so I was just doing everything I could to put the ball in play.”
If UW-La Crosse (36-15) comes back to win this series, it will be thanks in no small part to the role that Adler played, however.
"I think the teammate of the century, Shane Adler, really stepping up to the plate," said La Crosse coach Chris Schwarz. "I really think he might have punched me if I took him out of the game."
His performance meant Joe Miller could come back Wednesday to pitch Game 2 on three days' rest. Although Schwarz would not commit to a starter, Miller is certainly available. So is closer Jameson Sadowske, who threw six innings of relief on Saturday vs. Emory and has not pitched since.
Cortland's win set the school record for wins, breaking the previous mark of 43 in 2005. For the second time in two days, every Cortland starting position player got at least one hit.
Game 2 is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday at Fox Cities Stadium. Game 3, if necessary, will follow.