All three ran out on the Muskies, as they were defeated 10-1 by Christopher Newport University in a NCAA Division III Championship Series losers’ bracket contest Sunday evening at Fox Cities Stadium.

Lakeland was stymied by the pitching of freshman Mike Cosby, who lasted 8.1 innings for the Captains. Cosby shut the Muskies out, allowing just four hits, a walk, and eight strikeouts.

Cosby’s counterpart, Chris Thousand, took the hill for the Muskies and gave up 11 hits in six and two-thirds innings of work. Thousand was charged with five of the Captains’ 10 runs on 11 hits.

"I just couldn’t hit my marks today," Thousand said. "My breaking stuff wasn’t working, so I had to rely on my gas, and I just couldn’t find my spots."

Christopher Newport, still somewhat clouded mentally from a heart-breaking 6-5 loss in a morning game held the Muskies at bay for six innings, building a 2-0 lead before blowing the game open in the seventh.

With one out, left fielder T.J. Jones hit Thousand’s first offering into left field for a single and scored on Matt Turner’s double. Thousand responded by drilling Chris Phaup, to put runners on first and second.

Phaup was thrown out at second when Jon Hurd hit into a fielder’s choice, but Turner advanced to third.

Tim Tignor’s single to right scored both, and that closed the book on Thousand, as Lakeland manager John Weber brought in sophomore Dan Rauwerdink, who was tagged for three more runs in the ninth on four hits in 1.2 innings of work. Lance Ratcliff who gave up run No. 10 before retiring the last two batters replaced him.

Catcher Matt Frelich led the Muskies at the plate with a 1-for-3 effort and a run batted in.

"It’s been our story all year," Weber said. "We weren’t able to get the clutch hits we needed, and our pitching can only go so far."

Six Captains produced multiple-hit games, while Jones and Tignor each picked up three. Tignor finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs and two batted in.

Lakeland finished its season 34-16-1, while Christopher Newport improved to 37-15. The Captains will face Eastern Connecticut State University at a time to be determined on Monday.

Written By Andrew Wagner
Photos By Lehigh Photo

Game #: 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1