FINAL SCORE: #3 University of Cincinnati Clermont 11, #5 Robert Morris University Peoria 8
RECORDS: UC Clermont (24-21) | RMU Peoria (16-17)
LOCATION: East Field Park in Glens Falls, New York
IN BRIEF: Robert Morris had a chance to tie the game with bases loaded in the top of the seventh, but were cut short of a chance at the title as UC Clermont held on 11-8.
HOW THEY SCORED: UC Clermont jumped out early on Robert Morris Peoria, putting up a four spot in the bottom of the first. Jake Murray lead of the game with a walk and Jake Scarlato singled to put runners on first and second. Ben Seeger reached base on an error by the shortstop, scoring Murray. Freshman Spencer Henn followed it up, blasting a three-run homer in the left centerfield stands to put the Cougars up 4-0.
Robert Morris came back to tie the game in the top of the second, scoring four runs on three hits. Ryan Slusher and Jake Stephens led off the inning with singles. Cody Dietz followed up with another single to score Slusher. Following a Chad Lopez walk, Stephens and Dietz scored on a dropped third strike and errant throw into the RMU dugout on a play at the plate. Lopez, now at third, scored on another wild pitch.
UC Clermont took their second lead of the game in the bottom of the second scoring an unearned run by Jesse, who singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a Murray single and moved to third on and error by the pitcher.
Jesse, in the bottom of the third flied out to centerfield scoring Hann from third and advanced Beinke. Courtesy runner King stole second and on the catchers throw to second Beinke was able to steal home and make it 7-4.The Cougars added to their led in the fourth after Scarleto was walked to begin the inning and Seeger was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch advanced both runners to scoring position, Henn stepped up and singled to bring two runners home. After Beinke was hit by a pitch, Nick King would double, scoring Henn and advancing the UC Clermont lead to 10-4.
Peoria got a run back in the top of the fifth as Atchley scored on a Slusher sacrifice fly to leftfield. UC Clermont came right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring Scarlato, who walked, on a Henn single. No runs were notched again until the seventh, as Robert Morris (down 11-5) made a run at it. Kruger led off the inning with a double and Westart reached on an error by the third baseman. Slusher again singled, bringing home Kruger. Westart scored on the next play as Stephens hit into a fielder's choice. Dietz would walk to load the bases, down by four. Ziegler would walk to bring home a run, making the score 11-8 and bringing the go ahead run to the plate. However, Nick King returned to the mound and grounded out Atchley to end the ballgame.
For UC Clermont, Spencer Henn was 3 for 3 including a monster three run home run to left-center. Jacob Bienke was the only other Cougar with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 with a run scored. Five other Cougars had one hit in the contest.
NEXT UP: The Cougars move on to play Rochester College at11:00am EST on Thursday in the elimination bracket final of the 2016 Small College World Series. The winner moves on to play College of St. Joseph's Vermont in the National Championship game. Robert Morris University ends an outstanding season with 16 wins in this year's National Championship tournament.
