RECORDS: Wright State Lake (27-18) | UC Clermont (27-16)
LOCATION: East Field Park in Glens Falls, NY
IN BRIEF: The elimination bracket quarter-finals ended in dramatic fashion, as UC Clermont won the game 3-2 on a walk-off with two outs and bases loaded.
HOW THEY SCORED: The game remained scoreless through four, until Issac Fitzgerald of Wright State Lake opened up the game on a two-run RBI single in the fifth. The inning began with a Quintin Cantelli single. Jared Knous reached on an error, advancing Cantelli to third. Tyler Venters and Dustin Lewis each reached base on a fielder's choice plays by UC Clermont. Tristan Becker would walk to load the bases before the Fitzgerald single drove in Lewis and Venters.
UC Clermont would tie the ballgame in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on three hits. USCAA All-American Jake Murray began the inning with a triple to left-centerfield. Nick King followed him up with an RBI double to right center. With one out in the inning, Lukas Greenhill singled to knock in King. Caleb Rudisell and Jacob Beinke both walked to load the bases, however relief pitcher Chase Ruiz was able to strike out Nathan Gambill to end the inning.
After Wright State failed to score in the seventh, the Cougars of UC Clermont quickly mounted their last inning attack. Isaac Stidham started the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After a strike-out, Murray was walked to create a force play and potential double play. King singled to left, but it wasn't enough to score the run, leaving bases loaded with one out. Chase Louk ended the ballgame on a sharp groundball to third, which was mishandled, scoring Stidham and securing the win.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE: For UC Clermont, Jake Murray and Nick King combined for five of the Cougars seven hits, going 3-3 and 2-4 respectively. On the mound, USCAA All-American AJ Sweatland went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Jonathon Deifel would pick up the win for the Cougars, coming in for two innings of relief and yielding no runs. UC Clermont picked up the tight win, despite giving up three errors on the day.
NEXT UP: UC Clermont moves on to play the last contest of the day, slated for 4:30pm against Cleary University. The two teams will be battling to see who will play the loser of College of St. Joseph's Vermont and Apprentice School being played today at 2:00pm. Wright State Lake ends their year with a 27-18 record and their second consecutive appearance in the Small College World Series.
