BUTLER, PA. – Ryan Beard threw a six-hit shutout as Cincinnati-Clermont advanced to the championship game of the USCAA Small College World Series by knocking off Apprentice School 6-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cougars, on a 20-game winning streak, started the scoring in the second as Mike Gastrich smashed a solo home run to left field. Trevor Cunningham and John Cloyd followed with RBI singles to push the lead to 3-0.
An unearned run in the fourth gave Clermont a 4-0 lead before two more runs in the sixth as Cloyd and Jake Scarloto had RBI singles.
Beard struck out five and walked one in his six-hit shutout for the Cougars. Trevin Wilson topped the Builders with a 2-for-4 performance.
Cincinnati-Clermont plays in the 2:30 Thursday afternoon championship game, while Apprentice School faces the winner of Penn State Greater Allegheny and Selma in the 11 am third-place game.
Story by Apprentice School SID Jim Heath