Game #5 - Emory University 5, Eastern Connecticut State University 4

 

Cournoyer's Single Lifts Emory Past Eastern Connecticut

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – It was a question of mind over matter.

Tim Cournoyer just tried to relax. He told himself this at-bat was just like any other. The power of the mind worked, as Cournoyer stroked a key run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday to lift Emory University to a 5-4 win over Eastern Connecticut State University in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship finals.

“He gave me something on the outer half of the plate, and I was fortunate enough to hit a line drive,” Cournoyer said of Eastern reliever Jason LaVorgna.

Emory (40-9) advances to play the loser of the Chapman University-Kean University game at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

“I didn’t have to do anything (to get the team ready),” Emory head coach Mike Twardoski said. “The kids took a great batting practice. We took a great infield. They were relaxed. Maybe I was the most nervous guy out there.”

With the game tied at 4-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth, LaVorgna had come on in relief of Eastern starter Jimmy Jagodzinski, who allowed five hits and four runs, none earned, in seven innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Brandon Custer drew a lead-off walk and went to second on a balk. After a strikeout and a flyout, Cournoyer lined a ball just over the outstretched hand of Eastern shortstop Melvin Castillo. It looked like there might be a play at the plate, but Eric O’Toole’s throw to the plate was off-target.

Emory reliever Rich Babb, who came on in the top of the eighth, survived a lead-off single by Zack Thomas in the top of the ninth. He retired the next three batters in order to pick up the win.

“We haven’t played our best game yet, but we were able to come up with a win,” Twardoski said. “A lot of grit is the reason we won this.”

The Eagles jumped on Eastern (38-12) for two runs in the bottom of the first with the help of two throwing errors on third baseman Trey Bongiovanni. With runners at second and third and two out, Sam Cunningham stroked a two-run double to center field to put the Eagles on top.

“He did a heckuva job for us,” Eastern head coach Bill Holowaty said of Bongiovanni, who moved from pitcher to third base and took over the starting job about a month ago. “Here he is. He has to feel like the bum. You feel sorry for him, but if it weren’t for Trey Bongiovanni, we wouldn’t be here.”

The Warriors cut the lead in half in the top of the third when Matt Cooney reached on an error and stole second. Thomas’ single moved Cooney to third and he then scored on a double-play ground ball.

Eastern tied it in the fourth when the Warriors loaded the bases on singles from Randy Re and Shawn Gilblair and a fielding error. Tristan Hobbes’ sacrifice fly then scored Re to tie the game at 2-2.

The Warriors took the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs. Infield singles from Thomas and O’Toole and a ground out put runners at second and third. Gilblair then singled up the middle to score both runners and put the Warriors up 4-2.

That was all the Warriors would get off Emory starter Ian Ganzer, who allowed six hits and four runs, two earned, in seven innings.

Emory then rallied to tie the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. A throwing error allowed lead-off batter Zander Sotiriou to reach and David Hissey followed with a double to score Sotiriou and cut the lead to 4-3. Cooney fielded Dan Molnar’s bunt, but his throw to first was wild and that allowed Hissey to score and tie the game.

By Joe Vanden Acker
Lawrence University Sports Information Director