By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – UW-Stevens Point used timely hitting and solid pitching to defeat the top seeded Marietta Poineers 6-4 in game nine of the 2022 D-III World Series on Sunday, June 5.

• D3baseball.com World Series Scoreboard
• World Series: Day one | Day two | Day three
• D-III World Series Record Book
• The D3baseball.com World Series Program

The opening game on Sunday was an unexpected pitchers duel as the starters, Gino Sabatine and Caleb Krommenakker, toed the rubber for their respective teams. Both left the game in the sixth inning after allowing three runs.

"That was a very Stevens Point win, grind your starters as long as you can," said UW-Stevens Point head coach Nat Richter. "[Kammenakkker] threw strikes and had command of his pitches. He got the ball in play in early counts. They had a ton of ground balls and we made the plays behind him."

"Gino coming into the year was our No. 1 and we knew that he would have some big games for us," said Marietta head coach Brian Brewer. "He saved the best for last."

UW-Stevens Point will advance to play Salisbury for a 4:30 p.m. CT scheduled start. Marietta ends its season with a 1-2 record in bracket one and a 45-7 record overall.

Gino Sabatine got some help from his infielders as Marietta turned two double plays in the first five innings. Photo by Doug Sasse d3photography.com

UW-Stevens Point came out on the attack. Aaron Simmons walked with one out already on the board. Payton Nelson's single allowed Simmons to advance two bases and Anthony Tomczak's safety to right got the Pointers on the scoreboard.

Marietta relied on their defense to keep the game a 1-0 affair. UW Stevens Point got the lead off runner on in the form of Quin Henwood. What was ruled an infield hit was reversed upon review and a Logan Matson single put runners on the corners. The standard 6-4-3 grounded double play ended this threat, keep the game a 1-0 contest. UW-Stevens Point got the lead off runner on for the second time in the game in the fifth and the runner was erased with the Pioneers second twin killing.

In the sixth, Marietta put up a crooked number with help from their speed on the bases. A lead off single by Alex Richeter started it and was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Following a fly out, Damien Yenzi singled home the first run of the game for the Pioneers. After a steak of second, Zack Boyd was plunked putting two on board. Two-out hits by Brett Carson and Drew Holdenbach each scored a runner standing on second and the Marietta had a 3-1 lead.

The Pointers answered with a two-run double by Bradley Comer. Simmons was walked for the second time and Nelson was plunked to put two runners on base. Both scored on the Comer extra-base hit and we finished six inning with the score 3-3.

Austin Syvertson set the Pioneers down in order in the top of the seventh and following the streatch, the Pointers went back to work with the bats. Jakob Boos and Matson singled and follwing a sac bunt and an intentional walk to Simmons, the bases were full. Nelson single to center plated two and Tomczak's drove in one as the Pointers doubled up Marietta 6-3.

Marietta got one back in the eighth. Turner Hill singled for his first safety in four at-bats. A Yenzi double and walk to Boyd filled the sacks. A double play allowed Hill to score but give the Pointers two big outs. Syvertson ended the ining witha statement strikeout.