Allegheny College rallied for two runs in the top of the eighth inning to earn
a 4-2 victory Friday over Chapman University at the NCAA Division III Baseball
Championships at Fox Cities Stadium.
With the score tied 2-2 in the top
of the eighth, Allegheny right fielder Ben Couch led off with a double. Couch
advanced to third on a bunt and scored on Brad Hensler's sacrifice fly to give
the Gators a 3-2 lead. Kevin Davidson followed with a solo homer to right field
to give Allegheny a 4-2 lead and added insurance.
"We've struggled with (our offense)
for most of the year," Allegheny head coach Mike Ferris said. "We've
always had some guys show up in the game and have a good day, like (Couch) and
Mark (Minadeo) and (Davidson). But everyone else pretty much struggled, so I felt
I needed to maybe try to get those guys in when we had the opportunity. It worked
out once."
Chapman had runners on base in both
the eighth and ninth innings but couldn't advance anyone past second base. In
the eighth, Adam Olow drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on an error
by Hensler. Allegheny starter Jeff Mountain then retired the next three batters
to work out of the jam. Jude Chavez drew a lead-off walk to start the ninth for
the Panthers, but Allegheny turned a 6-4-3 double play on Alex Taylor's ground
ball to stifle the threat. Mountain then struck out pinch hitter Jason Miller
to end the game.
"It's obviously a tough road
once you lose a first game, but it's certainly not impossible," Chapman head
coach Rex Peters said. "I think anytime you're in this situation, you've
got to take it one game at a time and just go out there and compete and play your
best baseball."
Mountain (10-0) allowed six hits,
struck out six and walked three to keep his record perfect on the season. Tim
Huff (9-2) also went the distance for Chapman. He allowed nine hits, walked one
and struck out eight, including the side in the sixth inning.
"It felt all right," Mountain
said. "I didn't have my best stuff, I think. But I wasn't sore at all, just
maybe a little tired. You aren't going to have your best stuff every day. You
just have to try to go ahead."
Allegheny scored first in the top
of the first. Couch, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, led off the game
with a single. Couch went to second on Mark Minadeo's single and both runners
advanced on a bunt. Couch then scored on Jarrod Essey's sacrifice fly.
The Gators made it 2-0 in the top
of the third when Couch singled, went to third on Minadeo's singled and scored
on an error. |
