May 27, 2021

Playoffs are back after a one year absence

Adrian opened the Whitewater Regional with a 2-0 win over Salem State on Friday.
Photo by Doug Sasse, d3photography.com


We started with more than 350 teams in February and are down to the last 48 as May winds down. After an absence of a year, the NCAA playoffs are back with a retro feel. Two years ago we saw the excitement of super regionals as the playoff season went from a week to two weeks but this year, with a shortened field, we are back to eight regionals with each champion making the trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The first wins are in the books with both Washington University and Merchant Marine getting it done in two 2:12 games. Joe Raab, short-listed for D-III Pitcher of the Year, proved he belongs with a 2-1 complete game win over the top seed in the Auburn Regional, Eastern Connecticut State. The Warriors will have to take the long road if they are going to make the trip to Cedar Rapids. Raab scattered six hits and struck out eight with the only blemish, a  sixth inning home run by John Mesagno.

Washington U. saved its ace for another day, sending Mitchell Black to the mound. Black allowed just four base runners and a 2-0 lead after two innings held up in the 2-0 win over six-seeded Illinois College. Black did not allow a batter to get to second through the first eight innings. A leadoff walk in the ninth brought in the Bears closer, Jared Fong, who closed out the win.

Adrian scratched out single runs in the first and third and made them stand up as the Bulldogs moved forward in the bracket with a 2-0 win against Salem State at the Whitewater Regional. Pierce Banks went the first seven and gave up just four hits to come away with the win. Bulldogs leadoff batter Thomas Miller walked to lead off the first for Adrian, then stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an infield grounder by Gunner Raine. Miller played a role in the second run as well, after No. 9 hitter Ty Peck singled to start the third. Miller's base knock put runners on first and second, Brady Wood had his second sac bunt in as many trips to the plate and Rainey had his second productive grounder to short in three innings as well. Rainey went 0-for-3 with two RBI.

Rowan, Salisbury and Southern Maine had an easier time as their offense put up crooked numbers all day long. Southern Maine slugged seven doubles in a 17-2 win over Johnston and Wales. Rowan was an 8-1 winner over Penn State-Behrend, outhitting the AMCC representative 15-7. Salisbury, the fourth No. 1 seed who entered the winners column defeated Marymount 10-5 in a matchup of former Capital Athletic Conference rivals.

Round one might have belonged to the pitchers but the second was decided by the bats. The tone was set when Rochester and Marietta plated a 5-4 first inning. Dalton Wiggins came in for the Pioneers in the first, relieving starter Gino Sabatine, and settled things down. A four run seventh that started with a bases-loaded walk and a hit batter proved to be the difference as Marietta defeated Rochester 9-6.

Oswego State also brought their bats, as the top of the order was 10-for-15 with 12 runs scored in a 17-6 win over Husson. The Husson Eagles will open play at the Hartford Regional on Friday with an elimination game with Johnson and Wales. In High Point, Birmingham-Southern scored early, then late for a 12-10 win over Washington and Jefferson. The Presidents showed their fight and put a scare into the Panthers. Leading by eight and needing three outs, W&J plated six but fell two runs short in the late inning comeback attempt.

Tufts and Cortland caught the offensive bug as well, scoring 38 runs on 39 hits. The Tufts Jumbos survived 21-17, sending Cortland to an early game with Eastern Connecticut State on Friday. At the end of the day, the box score looked like a staff day for each teams as just three of the nine pitchers pitcher more than 2 innings.

Transyslvania came into the regional, scoring double digit runs in four of their last five games but Matt Mulhearn put a stop to that. The Gorlok ace allowed four hits and a lone ninth inning run in shutting down a potent Pioneer offense, winning 4-1. Mulhearn walked one and struck out 11. Jake Schmidt was impressive in the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits.

N.C. Wesleyan was the first team to walk it off. St. John Fisher's three run fourth looked for a while to be all the Cardinal needed but the Bishops battled back, scoring three in the eighth and two in the ninth to advance into the winners bracket. NCW had runners on second and third with one out in the final inning having just tied the game on a Tyson Bass double. SJF intentionally walked the bases loaded and plunked the next batter to force in the winning run. Wheaton (Mass.) also built an early lead just to see it slip away. A Jacob Studley double in the seventh gave the Lyons the lead back and closer Josh Roberge shut the door for a 5-4 win over Salve Regina.

Denison shut out the regional host, Millikin 4-0 to close out the Decatur Regional. Keystone and Mitchell had to wait for the four hour Tufts-Cortland game to finish and Keystone was prepared and send Mitchell into the elimination round with a 7-1 win over the Mariners. Lynchburg need some late inning magic to qualify for the playoffs but here was little drama in their 4-1 win over USA South representative. LaGrange.

Regional Websites: Auburn | Collegeville | Decatur | Hartford | High Point | Marietta | St. Paul | Whitewater

With rain parked firmly over the state of Minnesota, the Collegeville Regional and the St. Paul Regional have each been declared a washout for Thursday and they will try again tomorrow. As the rain spread, it caught the Whitewater regional, sending the UIWW-Luther game to Friday morning and the late game to a friday noon start.

Check out the D3baseball.com Regional Scoreboard for in game scores results and links. As the action continues, you can take a break from what you are doing and get a full picture where each teams stands at the scoreboard.

We will be updating this story with game summaries as we highlight the action with links to games stories so check back often to keep up with all the action. There are 24 ... make that 17 games today and no matter the result, there will be 25 games tomorrow as one loss does not knock you out.  The number one job for all teams is win or you will not get to see day three of the NCAA Regional playoffs.