By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
EASTLAKE, Ohio - Denison scored in five of the first six innings to defeat Rowan 12-10. The Profs has no answer to the Denison offense that controlled the tempo of the game from the opening inning of game three in the D-III World Series being held at Classic Auto Group Park.
"Thats a hard fought game," said Denison head coach Mike Deegan. "We knew Rowan was tough as we played them in a Regional last year. They are strong and physical. Just a battle."
"It is good to get the first one," added Deegan. We know we need to play better. We were not uncharacteristically sharp today."
"Congratulations to Denison," said Rowan head coach Mike Dickson. "They made a commitment to be good and they got good. All the credit to them. There are going to be ups and down and we have to be resilient and fight though these tough times."
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| Eric Colaco leaps to take away an extra base hit from the Rowan Profs. Denison went on to win the game 12-10. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com | More photos from this game |
The Denison Big Red drew first blood. Erik Sundgren reached on a fielders choice and stole second. Jake Blozy's single to right field plated Sundgren.
Rowan answered right away with a moon shot off the bat of Brayden Davis that cleared the ads on the fence and the advertising at the back of the outfield concourse.
Denison regained the lead right away. Cade Nowik trippled to center and scored on a Max Fishbein groundout.
The see-saw kept teetering as Rowan took their first lead of the game. Tyler Cannon and Phil Sedalis opened the third inning with singles. Marco Mannino was hit by a pitch to load the sacks. Jason Morgan's safety to left plated two as Rowan grabbed a 3-2 lead.
The Profs lead was short lived as the Big Red had Mike Shannon's number. With one out in the bottom of the third, Denison batters strung together five straight hits with the biggest swing coming off the bat of Jack Rollo. With a run already in, Rollo launched a three-run home run to center.
Rowan came right back to draw within a run. Davis reached on an error and Eric Sabato was hit by a pitch. After in infield single by Joey Bogart loaded the bases with no out, Denison opted to turn a double play and concede the run. An error on the pitcher allowed a second run to score leaving Denison ahead 6-5. Nick Falter's day was done as Degan went to the bullpen for Will Rettig. Rettig held the line despite giving up a walk to his first batter.
Denison continued to hit Shannon and after a leadoff single to Eron Vega, was lifted for reliever Steven Maiers. Vega would score on Sundgren's double down the left field line and Sundgren would score on a Rollo hit to right to make the score 8-5.
"It makes the game plan easier," said Degan about the offensive output. "I don't think we had really good at-bats. It was not like we were crushing the ball, but we were putting the ball into play and cashed in."
- D3baseball.com World Series Scoreboard
- D-III World Series Record Book
- D3baseball.com World Series Program
In the fifth neither team would score as the defenses flashed the leather. Left fielder Eric Colaco kept a deep drive inside the park and first baseman Fishbein tracked down a foul ball that required an acrobatic catch. In the bottom of the inning a strikeout-caught stealing double play kept Denison from scoring for the first time in the game. In the next inning, Denison shortstop Alex Vasquez would climb the ladder to take away a sure hit, saving runs from scoring for the Profs.
"That was a big play," Deegan said about the Vasquez catch. "That took runs off the board. It was special."
"It is a game of inches," said Dickson. "That ball falls in and it could be a different game. We make the play and we win. That is how tight the margins are."
Denison would get back to scoring in the bottom of the sixth. They strung together a string of five hits that resulted in four runs and as 12-5 advantage.
With a steady rain falling in the seventh, Rowan took advantage of a slippery baseball and scored two more runs.
Entering the ninth down five runs, the Profs made the game interesting, scoring three runs before flying out to center to end the game.
"Never give up to the last out," said Morgan. "That is our mentality. We could have let it go earlier but we kept fighting."
Nick Falter, the starter for Denison did not factor in the decision. He lasted 4.2 innings, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk. Rettig earned the win, going 5.0 innings with five runs on four hits and six walks. Jack Rollo came in the close the game. He gave up a hit and retire the next batter for his third save. For Rowan Shannon took the loss as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits. He stuck out one batter. Steven Maiers pitched 3.0 inning, alowwing five runs on nine hits. Austin Kreyenhagen and Jack Norton each pitched a perfect inning, the Rowan pitchers did not allow a walk.
Six Denison players had multiple hits with Sundgren, Blozy and Rollo getting three. Sundgren score four runs with Bloxy and Rollo leading the team with three RBIs each. Three Profs had multiple hits in Cannon, Sedalis and Morgan. Davis led the team in runs with three, Morgan has a team high two RBIs.
Denison will advance to play the winner of the Trinity (Texas) and UW-Whitewater contest. Rowan slips into the elimination rounds and will face the loser of the last game of the day.
"The first win is always important, super important," said Deegan. "So tomorrow is also important."