Game #13 • Emory University 18, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 7

 

Eagles Fly Past Pointers To Advance To Title Game

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – The inconspicuous line of relief pitcher Julian Smith was lost in the wake of Emory University’s victory on Monday.

The Eagles posted an 18-7 come-from-behind win, which included a 17-run outburst over two innings, over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (34-17) in an elimination game Monday at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship finals at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Smith’s three earned runs on six hits during 3.2 innings of work doesn’t scream difference-maker, but upon closer review, it was his calm under pressure after flirting with disaster on more than one occasion that ultimately kept Emory (43-9) alive in the early going.

“That was a tough, tough spot we put Julian (Smith) in early,” said Emory head coach Mike Twardoski. “That he only allowed three runs in those first few innings was the key to our rally. It could have easily been six or seven runs in the first inning, and who knows, another run in the first may have made the difference in momentum and affected whether or not we came back and won this game. It was a clutch performance.”

After Emory starter Adam Genn failed to register an out in the first inning, Smith inherited a three-run deficit and loaded the bases before ending the inning without any further damage. A solo home run in the second was followed by a perfect third frame, before he reloaded the bases in the fourth. The damage was minimal though, as the junior right-hander allowed a run on a fielder’s choice and another on a sacrifice fly, before Will Gumm entered the game to retire the final hitter of the inning.

“Coach told me to be ready the day before and I anticipated that I was going to throw at some point in the game today,” Smith said. “They had a great lineup and I just tried to stay calm and let my teammates pick me up.”

UW-Stevens Point’s Jordan Zimmermann had pushed the Pointers past Emory earlier in the tournament when he limited the Eagles to one hit, drove in a run and scored a run in a 2-0 Pointer triumph. The junior did his best to try and extend his season, as he clubbed a two-run home run over the left field wall in the first inning off Genn and followed with a nearly identical solo shot in the third frame. Zimmermann, who was 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBI, was the catalyst for UW-Stevens Point taking a 6-0 lead after four innings of play.

The lead wouldn’t make it to five innings, as the Pointers went from seemingly being in control of the contest to trailing after the Emory bats and momentum swung mightily in the sixth.

UW-Stevens Point starter Garrett Nix allowed two hits through four innings, but opened the fifth frame by allowing a walk, single and hit batsman to load the bases. Tyler Short got Emory on the board with a two-RBI single to left and after a wild pitch moved the runners up, Dan Molnar doubled home a runner. Steve Bravler walked and Joe Roth cut the lead to 6-5 with a two-RBI single to left-center field. The Pointers tried to shoot Roth as he attempted to steal second, but the throw was mishandled, allowing Bravler to score without a throw. Brandon Custer, who was preceded by another base on balls, put Emory up for good when he plated Roth with a single to right-center field.

“We never gave up as a team and we came back the right way,” Twardoski said. “We were taking pitches, getting clutch hits and forcing errors. All signs of a team that knows how to win. Baseball is game of momentum and you could feel us pushing on the door in the sixth and I really felt like it was ours for the taking after that.”

The wheels officially came off for the Pointers in the sixth inning, as a cavalcade of walks, past balls and errors led to 10 runs on four hits en route to a 17-6 Eagle advantage.

Both teams recorded 14 hits in the game, further emphasizing the Pointers’ woes, which included several wild pitches, a balk, three errors, eight walks and two hit batters.

“This was obviously far from out best game,” said UW-Stevens Point head coach Pat Bloom. “I don’t ever want to ever make excuses, but we saw a team that was mentally and emotionally exhausted and that fatigue showed through. I am really proud of these kids and what they accomplished the last few weeks. They have lifted our program to a championship level and didn’t go down without a fight.”

Roth, Molnar and Short paced the Emory offense, as all three players drove in three runs and scored three runs apiece. Gumm allowed four hits and one earned run in 2.1 innings on the mound to earn the win after relieving Smith.

Emory, which has rallied to win in 19 games this season, advanced to Tuesday’s title game against Kean University at noon. The Eagles, making their first appearance in the title game, will look to follow in the footsteps of 2004 national champion Chapman, which came from the loser’s bracket to win twice on the final day of play. Kean will need only one win over Emory to be crowned champs.

Matt Troha
Midwest Conference Sports Information Director