Seton Hill and Angelo State met in the 1-0 game in their side of the bracket at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships on Tuesday evening in Cary, NC at Coleman Field in the USA Baseball Training Center.
The Griffins battled back from 6-0 down to cut the lead to two but the Rams were able to add on late and send the Griffins to the losers bracket with a 9-4 win over the Griffins. SHU falls to 39-7 overall while the Rams advance to the finals of this side of the bracket with a 44-7 record.
Griffin starter
Ben Vicini got off to a great start with a perfect 1-2-3 top of the first inning.
The Rams got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning. They used a leadoff single then two, two out base hits to take a 2-0 lead over the Griffins.
Angelo State sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the fourth inning as they scored four times to extend their lead to 6-0. They scored three of their four runs after two outs.
The Griffins finally broke through in the fifth inning.
Jack Oberdorf led off the inning with a single, the first hit of the game for the Griffins. With one out,
Tommy Pellis singled and then
Canice Ejoh loaded the bases with a two out single.
Owen Sabol then drew a bases loaded walk to force in the first Griffin run of the game.
Derek Orndorff then worked a 10 pitch walk to force in another run and cut the lead to 6-2.
Seton Hill put together a two out rally in the sixth inning to trim the lead to two.
Jordan Fiedor singled with two outs and Pellis singled to put runners on first and second.
Tanner Froehlich was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ejoh then worked an eight pitch walk to force in another run and then Pellis scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 6-4.
The Rams were able to add to their lead in the eighth inning when they scored three times to push their advantage to five at 9-4.
Pellis led the Griffins with two hits.
Seton Hill will look to stay alive in the NCAA Baseball Championships when they meet Wingate on Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM in an elimination contest.
