In the first national tournament appearance in nearly 15 years, the Walsh Cavaliers baseball team continued their magic from the end of the season as they rallied for yet another win late.
The #7 seed Walsh used a five-run eighth inning to squeeze past the #2 seeded Wayne State Warriors on Thursday (May 19) afternoon at Harwell Field.
Walsh threatened in the second and third innings but a runner was stranded in scoring position in each frame.
With the game scoreless, Wayne State got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third inning. A leadoff single came around to score on an RBI triple but the cutoff throw got away from the Cavaliers, allowing the runner to score. The two-run "little league home run" put the Warriors up 2-0.
Jarret Lyon led off the fourth inning with a solo blast to left center field over the 39-foot Green Monster to cut the lead to 2-1.
Wayne State added to the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning on a RBI single making it 3-1.
Walsh's offensive onslaught took over in the top of the eighth inning. Shea Simmer doubled down the right field line on the first pitch of the frame. Matt McGrath, who entered in the second inning, followed with an identical first pitch double past the first baseman. Simmer scored on the play from second. After a pitching change, Joey Holiga lined a RBI double in the same exact spot, tying the game at three. A fielder's choice allowed Lyon to reach and move Holiga to third base. Jacob Beachy lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, deep enough to score Lyon. Austin Marko blasted a two-run shot over the Monster as Walsh blew the game open 6-3. After managing four hits in the first seven innings, Walsh tallied five hits in the eighth inning alone.
The Warriors got a baserunner in the eighth and ninth inning but the Cavaliers closed the door.
As a team, Walsh had nine hits in the game. Lyon tallied two hits with a double and the homer. Cam Kaiser singled twice and was hit by a pitch. Walsh had six extra base hits on the day.
Starter Brant Alazaus dealed through seven innings. He scattered six hits while allowing three runs (two earned). He fanned ten batters (fifth game of 10+ strikeouts) and did not walk a batter. Cole Brogan finished the game with two scoreless innings of relief.
Walsh will move on in the winner's bracket to face Illinois-Springfield at 2:30 PM on Friday (May 20).
Original source can be found here.
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