Dan Gnatzig's run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to a 4-3 win over SUNY-Brockport in an elimination game Sunday (May 30) at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium.

The Warhawks (39-8) advance to play a team to be determined on Monday (May 31).

With the game tied 3-3 heading to the bottom of the eighth, Nic Teach reached on an error by the shortstop. Ryan Callahan then singled to right field but was thrown out trying to reach second base for the second out. Jason Waite then came on in relief of Brockport starter Shawn Mahoney. Gnatzig stroked a single to center field, and Teach scored to put the Warhawks ahead to stay at 4-3.

"I struck out twice on off-speed and they came off-speed again," Gnatzig said. "I saw five consecutive curveballs so I was ready for it."

UW-Whitewater had led 2-0, but the Golden Eagles rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth inning. John Morgan started the inning with a single, and Matt Johnson later drew a one-out walk.

"We try to go hard with a pitcher's count," UW-Whitewater catcher Aaron Guilbault said. "Kevin made one mistake he hadn't made all year and it cost us." Peterson, who had only one hit in nine previous at-bats in the finals, said he was simply trying to protect the plate on 0-2.

"I was just trying to put it in play, and he threw it right down the middle," Peterson said.

Submariner Andrew Bergholz came on in relief of Tomasiewicz and pitched 2 1/3 solid innings of relief. He didn't allow run and gave up only two hits. The Warhawks came back to tie the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning. With two outs, Brady Endl doubled to left field. Guilbault then popped one up down the right field line. With the wind blowing hard out to left field, the ball that normally would have dropped in foul territory, was fair by just a few inches and Endl came in to score.

"The wind played a part in that," Brockport coach Mark Rowland said of Guilbault's bloop single. "That might be out of play (without the wind factor). When I talk about breaks, that's one that goes for the opponent." Once UW-Whitewater had the lead headed to the ninth, they turned the game over to Collin Kuecker. He retired Brockport in order to earn his sixth save of the season.

UW-Whitewater grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Steve Jilot drew a one-out walk and stole second. After a strikeout, Teach smacked a two-out single to center field to score Jilot. The Warhawks made it 2-0 with another run in the third. Gnatzig walked and stole second to start the inning, and Guilbault's one-out single scored Gnatzig.

It was the second tough loss of the finals for Brockport (34-15), which was making its first post-season appearance in the tournament. The Golden Eagles lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday.

"I think we were very close (to being 3-0 in the finals)," Rowland said. "I don't think any team can win a national championship without getting some breaks. I felt like the last two games we didn't get the breaks. It's hard to beat teams of this caliber without having someone on your side."