FINAL SCORE: #5 Robert Morris University Peoria 9, #8 Cleary University 8
RECORDS: Robert Morris University Peoria (17-17) | Cleary University (21-28)
LOCATION: East Field Park in Glens Falls, New York
IN BRIEF: The sticks came alive in the second game of day two, as Cleary and Robert Morris University combined for 21 hits and 17 runs. Cleary entered the seventh inning down 9-5. The Cougars scored three in the final inning and had the tying runner on third before T.R Dunne struck the last batter of the game, ending the game at 9-8 and advancing the Eagles to the semi-finals of the elimination bracket in the 2016 Small College World Series.
HOW THEY SCORED: Cleary, after putting up ten runs in last night's routing of the Apprentice School, began the scoring in the top of the first. After being hit by a pitch and stealing second, Nick Hoogerhyde took third base on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice hit by Reid Beffrey.
Robert Morris Peoria struck back with a vengeance in the bottom half of the inning, putting up three runs on four hits. Ethan Westhart led off the inning with a double. McKinley Kruger singled to advance Westart to third, and Dakota Carter hit a sacrifice fly to left to score the runner. T.R. Dunne followed that up with a single, before Ryan Slusher was hit to load the bases. Jake Stephens flied out to center to score Kruger and Cody Dietz slashed a single, scoring Dunne.
Cleary bounced back with four runs in the top of the second inning. Mickey Montpas led off with a single. Courtesy runner Brady Haba would steal second before moving to third on a single by Cameron Ciaciuch. Cleary scored their first run on a passed ball, then scored two more on errors by Robert Morris. The fourth and final run of the inning came off of a Briton Ott double, scoring Hoogerhyde.
Robert Morris doubled their score total in the bottom half of the second inning, taking back three runs from Cleary. With one out, Westart and Kruger both singled. Carter ripped a double in the gap scoring Westart and advancing Kruger to third. With two outs, Slusher singled to drive in Carter and Kruger. Robert Morris put up another run in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off single by Westart, who scored on a Slusher double.
Westart was the sparkplug for Robert Morris again in the bottom of the sixth, leading off with a single. Kruger and Dunne followed with singles to load the bases. Slusher hit his second double in a row, scoring two and giving Robert Morris a four run lead heading into the final inning.
In the seventh, Ciaciuch led off with a single for Cleary. Luke Bunting reached first on a fielder's choice, before advancing to second on a wild pitch. John Grable, next to the plate, ripped a single moving the runner to third. Grable then stole second, before Cleary pushed their first run across on a groundball error by the shortstop of Robert Morris. T.R. Dunne came into the game and immediately gave up an RBI double deep to center off Ott. Hoogerhyde scored on a fielder's choice groundball to short, which advanced Ott to third base. With two outs and the tying run on third, Dunne struck out Roosa looking on an outside fastball.
For Robert Morris, Ethan Westart could not be stopped today, putting up four hits in four at bats, and scoring four runs at the top of the line-up. McKinley Kruger and Ryan Slusher both added three hits apiece, with Slusher knocking in five of the Eagle's nine runs. Cody Dietz pitched six innings for the Eagles, giving up six hits and only two earned runs.
NEXT UP: Robert Morris Peoria remains alive in the 2016 Small College World Series and will face UC Clermont at 4:30pm EST this afternoon in an elimination contest. Cleary ends their run at a National Championship, with two wins in the Small College World Series.