(TERRE HAUTE, Ind.) – The sixth-seeded Thomas More College fell, 11-8, in 15 innings to Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) rival and fifth-seeded Washington & Jefferson College in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Championship Mideast Regional hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at Art Nehf Field in Terre Haute, Indiana. The game started on Friday (May 17, 2013) at 9:05 p.m. and ended at 2:07 a.m. on Saturday (May 18).
With the loss, the Saints end the season at 31-16. With the win, the Presidents improve to 33-12 and advance to Championship Saturday tomorrow where they will play second-seeded and 13th-ranked Marietta College in a 12 p.m. elimination game.
The Presidents took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning with three runs. The Saints answered in the bottom of the second with three runs to tie the game at 3-3 as sophomore catcher Brad Popham (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) had a two-run batted-in double scoring sophomore left fielder Nick Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) and sophomore first baseman Craig Hyson (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) and then Popham scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the third inning Connor had a RBI single scoring senior right fielder Ryan Darner (Burlington, Ky./Covington Catholic), junior center fielder Cody Makin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) scored on a Hyson RBI walk, junior designated hitter Travis Miller (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) scored on a Popham ground out and senior short stop David Kennett (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) had a RBI single scoring Connor to increase the Saints' lead to 7-3
W&J used two runs in the fourth and a run in the seventh to tie the game at 7-7. The Presidents then plated four runs in the top of the 15th to take an 11-7 lead.
In the bottom of the 15th inning Makin hit a RBI single scoring Kennett but it wasn't enough as W&J won the game, 11-8.
The Saints were led at the plate by Makin, who was four-for-eight with a RBI and a run scored. Four other Saints had multiple hits in the game as Darner was two-for-five with a run scored, Kennett was two-for-five with a RBI and a run scored, Miller was two-for-seven with a run scored and Connor was two-for-three with a RBI and two runs scored.
Senior pitcher David Etscheid (Union, Ky./Ryle) suffered the loss as he pitched nine innings of relief and gave up six runs (all earned) on 14 hits and struck out seven. Senior pitcher Mike Hager (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) earned a no-decision as he started and pitched four innings giving up five runs (all earned) on 10 hits and striking out two. Freshman pitcher Chris Auer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) pitched two innings of relief and gave up only one hit and struck out one.