By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
EASTLAKE, Ohio - Misericordia scored four late runs to take a 5-1 victory from Lynchburg to advance to the D3 Championship Series in the 2024 D-III College World Series being played at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio. Misericordia needed to win twice and they did with a 3-1 win earlier in the day that forced a winner-take-all game.
Max Oliver, who last appeared in a game on April 21 in his longest outing of the year (6 IP) was called upon to pitch for Misericordia and responded with a gem. Oliver responded with a complete game win, giving up one run (earned) on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. It was a performance that made the head coach almost smile.
"Really proud for Max Oliver," said Misericordia head coach Pete Egbert. "At this time last year he did not get out of the first inning against Baldwin Wallace. That has been sticking with his ever since. To see him get the opportunity, to make the most of it, unbelievable performance."
It's been a while and I have not pitched in a month," said Oliver. "It has been tough to stay good and keep my stuff working. A lot of bullpens and intrasquad games, Just making sure I stay sharp. Coach said my number would be called again and that wound up happening."
"Max is competitive," said Garrett McIlhenney. "To see him succeed on the mound and knowing he is going to succeed brings a smile to us."
"Their lefty and the performance he had," said Lynchburg head coach Travis Beazley. "I thought we had a good game plan. He did a great job mixing in his changeup later in the game. Just pounded the zone."
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The D3 Championship Series starts with a single game on Tuesday night and concludes with one or two games on Thursday starting at 11:00 am EDT. Wednesday is expected to be a total washout because of rain in the forecast.
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| Max Oliver, who baffled Lynchburg with just about everything else he threw with his left hand, tosses his glove in celebration after he pitched his Cougars into the Division III Championship Series. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com | More photos from this game coming at d3photography.com |
Misericordia opened the scoring with a manufactured run. Gabe Bunn was hit by a pitch and was moved over on an Owen Cordner sac bunt. A Garrett McIlhenney single moved Bunn to third. Jack Regenye got the RBI with another sacrifice bunt as the squeezed worked to perfection. This was the 25th time in the D-III College World Series that a team was able to execute two sacrifice bunts in the same inning.
Lynchburg tied up the game in the fifth in a similar fashion. Brandon Garcia was hit in the hand by a pitch and took third on Brenton Jones’s single to center where he scored on a Quinn Madden sacrifice fly.
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Misericordia regained the lead in the seventh inning. Jason Sanfilippo reached on a fielders choice and stole second. Andrew Van Horn followed him when he was hit by Lynchburg starter, Logan Tapman. Cordner’s single to right field plated Sanfilippo. Beazley elected to walk McIlhenney intentionally which allowed all runners to move up, including Van Horn. He went on to score the second run of the inning when Regeyne was hit by a pitch. This spelled the end of Tapman’s tenure on the mound and he was replaced by Mason McDowell. McDowell got a ground ball to end the inning.
Lynchburg made a bid to get one run back in the seventh but Joe Comins reeled in Ryan Long's deep drive, reaching above the yellow home run line at the wall to keep the ball in the park.
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Misericordia added two more runs in the eighth. Connor Maryniak singled and was pushed to second base by the hero of the last inning, Comins. Austin Riney replaced McDowell but lasted one batter. Sanfilippo laid down a sacrifice bunt that the catcher threw errantly, allowing Maryniak to score and Commins to take third. With Nathaniel Mack in for Riney, a pass ball allowed Comins to score. Mack struck out the last two batters to end the inning.
"Incredibly proud of our guys," said Beazley. "We knew it would be tough. Misericordia is a well coached team and gives you nothing. It was not our day."
Lynchburg out hit Misericordina 4 to 6 with only Gavin Collins with multiple hits (2). Misericordia's Maryniak led all hitters with two RBIs. Oliver (2-1) earned just his second win of the year as Logan Tapman (1-2) took the loss. Tapman lasted 6.2 innings. He gave up three runs (all earned) on three hits and three walks. He hit four batters.
Lynchburg ends its run in the playoffs with a third place finish (tied) and a 2-2 record in the 2024 D-III College World Series.