EASTLAKE, Ohio - On a day where the teams were supposed to get a day off, instead Misericordia defeated UW-Whitewater 12-9 in the opening game of the D3 Championship Series in the 2024 DIII World Series being played at Classic Auto Group Park.

In a game moved up to Tuesday instead of Wednesday due to a forecast of rain, both teams' front line starters were unavailable. Misericordia and UW-Whitewater staffs looked at the back end of their depth charts to find a starter for the opening game of the D3 Championship Series. By the end of the second inning, both starters, Misericordia’s Justin Calavese and Whitewater’s Max Huseboe, were out of the game as the rest of the game looked very much like a staff day for both teams.

"They tell you it impacted equally," said UWW head coach John Vodenlich. "When you get to this point it is pretty strange and irregular not to see the team's number one, two. Both teams are on an equally footing."

"It affected both teams," said Misericordia head coach Pete Egbert. "We have to take a look at what's going on. You can argue that its the most important game of the year and both teams are pitching guys who have not pitched in significant roles all year long."

Jason Sanfilippo and the Misericordia offense had a lot to shout about. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com

The format was set up to allow the pitchers who pitched on Friday to come back on four days' rest.

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Both teams were searching for the right pitcher. Misericordia found him first and he was Kyle Lanzendorfer. Lanzendorfer tamed the potent Warhawk offense for the final 4.1 innings. He allowed just one run (unearned) on four hits and a walk. He earned the win to move to 4-0.

"They area good hitting team and you have to go after them," said Lanzendorfer. "You have to play the game. My plan is to throw the ball over the plate and use my defense."

"Unbelievable effort by Matt Lanzendorfer," said Egbert. He pitched yesterday and did not want to use him. He told me he was available and when I saw that look in his eye, I knew we could go with him."

"They pitched pretty well and that kid that came in for them for four innings. He did a great job. They out hit us. It was not what we wanted."

UW-Whitewater scored the first runs of the D3CS with a two-out home run in the opening inning. Eli Frank walked ahead of Adam Cootway’s home run to left. Unlike last night, the ball cleared the fence with plenty of height and as out of the reach of Joe Comins, the Misericordia left fielder.

"They hit a few over the fence and we didn't," said Egbert. "We still have to steal our bags, grind out at-bats, take extra bases. Pleased with the offense. They took advantage of mistakes."

Misericordia answered the next inning as they brought nine men to the plate. Jason Sanfilippo and Andrew Van Horn followed a ground out with singles. Gabe Bunn joined the hit parade with an RBI single through the left side of the defense. Owen Cordner flied to center and the Warhawks were one out away from escaping with the lead. Garrett McIlhenney singled in a run, then stole second. It was deja vu as Jack Regenye singled in a run and then stole second. Brock Bollinger hit his second double of the game, this one down the left field line, for the final runs of the inning giving the Cougars a 5-2 lead at the end of the second inning.

"That is not us," said Egbert. "We are not going to win a slugfest. We got fortunate to do that but you saw two completely different styles of baseball."

In the fourth, the Cougars added to their lead in the same manner they have been scoring all tournament long. Bunn had a leadoff single and was moved around the infield with a sacrifice bunt and ground out to the right side of the infield. Regeyne reached on a bunt to third base, bringing home Bunn. A clean single to left by Bolinger and a walk to Connor Maryniak loaded the bases. A second base-on-balls forced in the second run of the inning. A change of pitchers brought in Sam Dupor. Dupor gave up another bases-loaded walk for another run. Van Horn’s hit to center field plated two runs to give the Cougars a 10-2 lead.

"We always want to get on top, said Regenye. "It felt good to jump on them early and get the ball rolling for the rest of the guys."

"They outhit us and outplayed us," said Vodenlich. "Hopefully we can change that is a couple of days."

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Misericordia’s bend but not break defense continued to add zeros to the scoreboard until a fifth inning walk to Matt Scolan was followed by Eli Frank’s second home run of the tournament. Unlike the scoring in the first, the Warhawks continued to put pressure on Misericordia. Cootway doubled and scored on Andy Thies hit to left center. Thies moved to second on Sam Paden’s single and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. When Dominik McVay swung on strike three, the ball got away from the catcher, allowing McVay to reach first place and Thies to score. Bennett Frazer fouled out to shortstop. With the Misericordia shortstop unable to get the ball back to the infield quickly, Paden tagged up and scored as the throw skipped past the catcher. McVay on first took advantage of this to easily get to second. Aaron Holland doubled just bast the third base bag to plate Mcvay. A walk to Scolan brought the go ahead run to the plate but Frank filed out to center to end the inning with the Cougars clinging to a two-run lead, 10-8.

Misericordia added some insurance late with another run in the seventh inning to stretch their lead to three games. Bunn singled off the pitcher to reach first and was sacrificed into scoring position. McIlhenney singled to center and with the runner on the move with the swing of the bat, Bunn scored easily.

UW-Whitewater got this run back in their next at-bats. Frank blooped a ball to right that fell in between the fielder chasing the popup. The right fielder tried to throw out the runner stretching the hit to a double and threw the ball away and when it was retrieved, Frank was standing on third base. Cootway’s safety brought Frank home to restore the Cougars' lead back to two runs.

Misericordia added one more run in the eighth to complete the scoring.

"The job is not done; we have not done anything yet," said Egbert. "I want my team to stay hungry. We put ourselves in position.

"We poked the bear tonight and tonight they are upset."