By Pat Coleman
D3sports.com

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Who needs hits?

The final game of the night on Day 2 of the 2023 Division III baseball World Series got started nearly two hours late, but was in no danger of putting anyone to sleep.

At one point in the bottom of the first inning, East Texas Baptist and Lynchburg had combined to issue eight free passes, while only recording four outs. When Lynchburg finally got its second hit — in the sixth inning — it was a single that drove in its seventh run. And in the end, it was a win for Lynchburg, 8-3. 

The three hits for Lynchburg are its fewest of the season, although it was supplemented heavily by 10 walks and six batters being hit by a pitch, the latter tying the NCAA Division III World Series record set by Misericordia earlier the same day.

Brandon Pond gave up just four hits in a complete-game win. Photo by Doug Sasse, d3photography.com | More photos from this game

• Day one stories
• Saying goodbye to Cedar Rapids
• D3baseball.com All-American Team
• D3baseball All-Region Teams

The Hornets advance to Monday, where they will face the survivor of East Texas Baptist and Salisbury. Lynchburg, at 2-0, gets Sunday off. Lynchburg needs to win one game on Monday to advance to the Division III Championship Series, while its opponent will need to win twice to advance.

"I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing to lead the country in walks or be in the top five the last three years," said Hornets coach Lucas Jones. "I would love to drive more baseballs and lead the country in doubles and home runs. But, walks will do."

The teams combined for eight runs in the first inning on just four hits. Three of the first four batters for Lynchburg walked. Four Hornets walked and two were hit by pitch as Lynchburg put up five runs in the first inning on just one hit, a double by Eric Hiett down the left field line. Jackson Harding got an RBI on a walk. And ETBU came to get starter Cole Godkin after just one out.

Staked to the big lead, Brandon Pond struggled in the first inning, walking the leadoff hitter and hitting the third batter. Then three line drive singles allowed the Tigers to claw back three of the five runs they’d given up. But Pond faced the minimum over the final eight innings and got to the ninth with a 8-3 lead.

"I had a little tough time settling in the beginning," Pond said after the game. "My heart rate was kind of up, balls were over top of the plate, a little bit too up."

Was it from sitting for the long first inning while his team batted? Was it World Series hype?

"I think it's a little bit of both. Long inning, get a little tight, try to stay loose, but it's a World Series and heart rate and breathing's going to be important, and I think mine got a little too high, but I figured it out."

• D-III World Series Record Book
• D-III World Series Program
• D-III World Series Bracket
• Past playoff headlines: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

And in the ninth, the Lynchburg fans were loud, and the Hornets bullpen was quiet, as Pond retired the side on just nine pitches. He threw the complete game, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine.

"Their guy just dealt," said ETBU coach Jared Hood. "He had a great night and he threw really well, kept our guys off balance and climbing a pretty steep hill. So, hats off to that guy. He did an outstanding job today."

Meanwhile, Lynchburg managed just three hits of its own, but they were timely ones in the victory.

East Texas Baptist plays Salisbury on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT in an elimination game.