By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
EASTLAKE, Ohio - Never say die Endicott. The No. 1 team was on the verge of a second early exit in as many years but found their offensive stroke to score a 7-6 walk-off win over Pomona-Pitzer in the Day 2 opener of the 2024 D-III College World Series at Classic Auto Group Park to earn a spot in Sunday's games.
Needing one run to tie, the Gulls found two to win the game and stave off elimination. Dylan Pacheco opened the ninth with a double to left center and traded places with Nicolas Notarangelo to tie the game.
“When I got in the box, I try to treat it like another at-bat,” said Notarangelo. “I don’t want to make it as big as it is.”
With the loss taken off the board, Endicott head coach Byran Haley called upon their cleanup hitter to sacrifice Notarangelo to third. With one out, Pomona-Pitzer intentionally walked two batters to load the bases. Robbie Wladkowski put the ball in play that Greg Pierantoni, the Sagehens shortstop, was able to stop but lost his feet as his throw home went wide leading to an impromptu celebration for the Gulls.
“Wow, incredible day for baseball, an incredible win,” said Haley. “I have known Frank [Pericolosi, Pomona-Pitzer head coach] since we were kids playing legion baseball together. Hats off to the way they compete. We have in a lot of these situations where there is no panic. They are not pressing but having fun playing the game.”
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| Nicolas Notarangelo slides in safely while Robbie Wladkowski celebrates, running up the line after his ninth-inning groundout brought home the game-winning run. Photo by Patrick Coleman, D3sports.com | More photos from this game at d3photography.com |
“Two good teams out there,” said Pericolosi. “We just came out short at the end when we were in position to win. They made two good plays at the end and got the W.”
Pomona-Pitzer came out swinging to get on the scoreboard first with a single run in the first. JC Ng laid a picture perfect bunt down the third base line and was erased on an Issac Kim fielders choice. Pierantoni doubled down the right field line to set up runners in second and third. A Nate Jakobs sac fly brought home Kim for the game’s opening run.
Through the first two innings, the leadoff batter for each team reached and in the second, this led to Endicott’s first runs of the game. TL Liponis opened the second with a single to left. Wladkowski was the recipient of Pomona’s third free pass of the game. A ground out put both runners in scoring position and did just that on a Joey Frammartino single through the right side of the infield.
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The lead swapped again as the Sagehens put five on the board in the fourth to make the margin 6-2. Pomona opened the inning with three straight hits, singles by Pierantoni, Jakobs and a run scoring double by Jack Gold. A fielder’s choice added the second run of the inning where no out was recorded. Endicott starter, Charlie Hale got a strikeout but was unable to field a perfectly placed bunt that allowed Jimmy Legg to reach and Gold to cross home plate. William Kinney also joined the hit parade as his blooper fell just out of reach of the second basemen, loading them up for the top of the order. This was the end of Hale’s tenure on the mound as he was replaced by Will Fox. Fox threw a wide pitch that eluded the catcher that Peter Savas took advantage of to score the fourth run of the inning. The scoring ended with a Kim sacrifice fly.
Endicott inched closer in the fifth inning with a run in their at-bats. Dylan Pacheco opened the inning with a clean single to right-center. Following a walk, Pacheco advanced to third on a popup to the second baseman. This caused a stoppage in play as the coaches and umpires debated on the fine point of the infield fly rule. Pacheco was able to remain at third and scored on a Danny MacDougal groundout to first.
Endicott made it a one-run game in the eighth. Liponis singled with one out and it looked like he might be stranded after a pop up to the first baseman for out number two. John Mulready placed his drive just inside the right field line which allowed Liponis to score from first. James Benestad was inserted as a pinch runner and scored on pinch hitter Eljiah Moses' single up the middle of the infield defense.
Endicott had 11 hits, led by Pacheco, Notarangelo and Liponis with two. Frammartino led the guls with two RBIs. Pomona-Pitzer also had 11 hits with Pierantoni leading all hitters with three hits.
Kyan Bagshaw (4-0) was the pitcher of record as he pitched the final 0.2 innings for Endicott. Eric Prough (6-4) took the loss.
Endicott (48-3) will play the loser of the Lynchburg-Misericordia game on Sunday at 11 a.m. EDT. Pomona-Pitzer ends their first appearance in the D-III World Series with a 0-2 record. They finish their season 37-14.