FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
Ouachita Baptist 12 Ashland 5
SAUGET, Ill. – The bats struggled early, then came alive as the fourth-ranked Ouachita Baptist baseball team plated 10 runs between the fifth and seventh innings to eliminate Ashland , 12-5, during Wednesday’s NCAA Division II College World Series play at GCS Ballpark.
“We did a good job today,” Tigers coach Scott Norwood said. “We were emotionally spent after yesterday. Ashland is a great team and Trent (Lingle) did a good job on the mound.”
The Tigers (49-15) advance to play tournament unbeaten Sonoma State 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 29, while the Eagles conclude their season with a 40-18 record.
Ouachita Baptist opened things up in the bottom of the first by plating two runs.
Blake Lockwood, who went 1-for-2, walked and moved to third when Justin Pennell , who was 1-for-4, reached on an error by Ashland first baseman Ben Minard. Jim Streicher plated Lockwood with a base hit to left and Pennell scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Rudy Jovanovski.
Ashland answered in the top of the third by scoring three runs to grab a 3-2 lead.
Matt McAllester led off the frame with a base hit to right and Tyson Rowland single through the right side. The runners advanced on a groundout by David Quiroga, while McAllester scored on a ground out to third by Jacob Petkac. Minard atoned for the error in the first inning with a two-run homer to center.
The Eagles added to the lead in the fifth.
McAllester led off the inning with a base hit through the right side and stole second. Rowland followed with a single to center to move McAllester to third. McAllester scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Quiroga to give Ashland a 4-2 advantage.
Ouachita Baptist cut the margin to 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Drew Maus, who went 2-for-4, began the inning with a base hit to right and Drew Wurzelbacher walked. Lockwood reached on a fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt as Maus was safe at third to load the bases. Pennell grounded to the first baseman while reaching on a fielder’s choice as Maus was out at home. Streicher, who went 2-for-4, drew a walk to plate Wurzelbacher.
Minard made it a 5-3 contest as he belted a solo homer to right to give Ashland a 5-3 lead in the top of the sixth.
Back came the Tigers by scoring five runs to grab an 8-5 advantage.
Chad Taylor led off the bottom of the sixth with a base hit to left. Nick Williams, who was pinch hitter for Chandler Boyce, walked and with two outs, Lockwood drew a walk. A bloop base hit by Pennell scored Taylor and Williams to tie the game at 5. Streicher followed with his eighth homer, a three-run shot, over the left field wall to give Ouachita Baptist an 8-5 lead.
“All throughout the season I have learned to be a patient hitter,” Streicher, who had one homer last year, said. “The pitcher hung a slider and I was able to get it over the big wall in left.”
The Tigers added to the margin in the seventh.
Destan Makonnen, who was 2-for-4, doubled to center to lead off the frame and moved to third on a passed ball. Maus plated Makonnen with a base hit up the middle. After a wild pitch moved Maus to second, Wurzelbacher walked and Locked belted an 0-2 pitch by reliever Jeremy Sloan over the right field wall – his first of the season – to give the Tigers a 12-5 lead.
“I got lucky,” Lockwood said. “The porch in right is 301 and I think I hit it 303.”
Jarod Hershberger started on the mound for Ouachita Baptist and was tagged for five runs on seven hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts in five innings. Trent Lingle (1-0) worked four innings of relief to pick up his first win. He surrendered a run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Todd Schlenkerman (8-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Eagles. He gave up eight runs (six earned) on six hits with six walks and 10 strikeouts, including six of the 10 were looking. Brad Thomas
Jeremy Sloan and Matt Schultz worked in relief.
The NCAA Division II College World Series contest between Ouachita Baptist and Sonoma State at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 29 and can be heard on the Ouachita Baptist athletic Web site at: www.obutigers.com.
NOTES: First-ever meeting between Ouachita Baptist and Ashland … Marks first time Ouachita Baptist SID Brian Howard faces Alma Mater… Tigers are 2-1 in the NCAA Division II College World Series… The match up with Sonoma State will be the first time in school history… The Sea Wolves enter the game ranked No. 2.
Central Missouri State 5 Shippensburg 1
SAUGET, ILL. – Central Missouri pitcher Danny Potje pitched eight scoreless innings, helping the Mules avoid elimination with a 5-1 victory over No. 21 ranked Shippensburg Wednesday night in the consolation bracket of the NCAA Division II Championships at GCS Ballpark
Potje allowed just one run on 11 hits and left 12 base runners stranded, while improving to 9-2 on the season. He also struck out eight in his first complete game of the season.
“Danny was huge for us tonight,” said Central Missouri head coach Tom Myers. “He gave us a chance to rest our bullpen. Then behind him, I thought we played real good defense. You’re going to win a lot of ball games when you don’t give up too many extra base hits.”
“It was kind of a surprise for me because my arm never really got tired,” said Potje of his performance. “As long as I kept throwing strikes, I knew my defense was going to be there behind me.”
Central Missouri (47-16) advances to the national semifinals tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. against No. 1 ranked Mount Olive.
Potje was backed up by an offense that produced five runs on 10 hits. Will Feil paced the Mules with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, including two runs scored and an RBI.
Jason Kelly (7-3) took the loss for Shippensburg, allowing five runs on eight hits.
Justin Garber recorded three hits for the Red Raiders, who end their season at 39-26.
