MARIETTA, Ohio — In an elimination game that started on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and finished just before 1 p.m. Sunday (May 22), Christopher Newport defeated Kalamazoo by the score of 11-5 earning the right to play Marietta in the championship game.
The Pioneers and Captains will play at 5:15 p.m. Christopher Newport will need to beat Marietta twice, while the Etta Express needs just one win to claim the NCAA Regional crown and advance into next weekend's Super Regionals.
"The only reason we're here is because of our seniors. It's really hard to get here," Kalamazoo head coach Mike Ott said. "I think it's more about celebrating the journey right now and going back to work sometime this summer. We just can't replace guys like this. We'll have to find a new identity with a new group."
The Captains jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the game was suspended for the second time Saturday evening. The first lightning delay last a little over an hour, while the second caused the game to be suspended until Sunday morning. When the game was stopped for the night, CNU led 3-0 with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.
Michael Martorano delivered a big two-run single through the left side of the infield and Drew Caroline worked a bases-loaded walk accounting for CNU's three runs in the first inning.
When play resumed on Sunday, the Captains quickly doubled their lead with three more runs in the fourth. Martorano had another RBI single, and Brayden Hodges had a two-run triple in the frame.
"We've been in this situation before, but you never know how the players will respond when they get back the next day," CNU head coach John Harvell said. "Having a lead going into the night made the guys feel a bit better about themselves. Scoring quickly today rose their confidence level."
Two more CNU runs in the fifth made it 8-0 in favor of the Captains. Connor Clark added a run-scoring triple and the second run of the inning scored on a double play.
Kalamazoo finally got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run off the bat of Spencer Baldwin.
Christopher Newport made it 11-2 with three runs in the seventh only to see the Hornets plate three in the bottom of the inning accounting for the final 11-5 score.
Colin D'Arcy (2-0) started on the mound for CNU and worked five shutout innings for the win. He allowed three hits and struck out five. Danny Checkosky earned a save pitching the final three innings. He gave up two hits, no runs, walked four and struck out two.
Kalamazoo starter Thomas Sylvester (3-3) was tagged with the loss. He gave up three runs on two hits in 0.2 innings of work. Sylvester walked three. Six other Hornet pitchers toed the rubber as Kalamazoo struggled to shut down the Captains' offense.
Martorano finished with two hits, three RBI and one run scored for CNU.Justin Bowers was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the seventh inning and Jonathan Fisher had a pair of hits, including a double.
"I was seeing the ball very well today. A lot of my day happened last night, but it was good to come out after the delay and pick up where I left off," Martorano said. "The whole team in general had a really good offensive day. I was happy to see the game plan work out from top to bottom."
Spencer Baldwin led Kalamazoo with three hits, including a double and a home run to go along with three RBI. Blake Bean and Harrison Poeszat had two hits each in the game.