W&J wins opener at D-III College World Series
Courtesy of Steve Frommell/d3photography.com
Dante Dalesandro scores W&J’s first run of the game in the third inning. The Presidents defeated Concordia Chicago to advance in the NCAA Division III World Series in 2017.
Courtesy of Steve Frommell/d3photography.com
Nick Gatins had three hits and drove in two runs for Washington & Jefferson against Concordia Chicago in the opening game of the 2017 NCAA Division III College World Series.
APPLETON, Wis. – Washington & Jefferson overcame a first-pitch hitch and rebounded to defeat Concordia Chicago 4-2 in the opening game of the NCAA Division III College World Series baseball tournament Friday at Tri Cities Stadium.
Senior shortstop Nick Gatins had three hits and drove in two runs and junior pitcher Bryce Schnatterly threw seven strong innings for W&J (39-11), which fell behind one pitch into the bottom of the first inning.
“We’re happy with the result,” W&J head coach Jeff Mountain said. “I thought we played with a good amount of confidence and a good amount of poise.”
The fifth-seeded Presidents will play eighth-seeded Roanoke (34-17) Saturday at 2:15 p.m. Eastern. Roanoke upset top-seeded Oswego State 8-7 in the opening round.
Concordia Chicago (33-12) took a 1-0 lead when Bryan VanDuser hit a solo home run on Schnatterly’s first pitch of the game. VanDuser drove in both Concordia Chicago runs.
“It was not a deflating moment or anything like that,” Mountains said of the leadoff home run, “but it was big that (Schnatterly) battled back and got in the strike zone and got people out.”
Schnatterly improved his record to 9-0 by allowing only two runs on six hits over seven innings. He walked only one and was able to take advantage of Concordia Chicago’s aggressiveness at the plate by changing speeds.
“I was trying to get ahead early in the count with offspeed stuff,” Schnatterly said. “We knew they attacked fastballs so I wanted to make them uncomfortable with offspeed stuff, curveballs and splitters.”
The Presidents took the lead with a three-run top of the third inning. Left fielder Dante Dalesandro and second baseman Adam LaRue hit consecutive singles off Concordia Chicago starter Brian Musielak (9-2). Catcher Derek Helbing then dropped down a perfect bunt that went for a single that loaded the bases.
Nick Vento then tied the score with a sacrifice fly as all three W&J baserunners advanced on the play. Gatins then laced a two-run double to put the Presidents ahead 3-1.
Vento had two hits to give him 251 in his career, tying the school record held by Josh Stanscia (2011-2014). He also set a school record by playing in his 177th career game.
“He’s our leader,” Mountain said. “He’s not a rah-rah guy but he’s steady. I’m happy for him and all our seniors. They’ve done a good job.”
W&J made it 4-1 with a run in the top of the fifth as a two-out single by first baseman Mark Merlino drove in Helbing, who had reached base with a walk and moved up on a single by Gatins.
Concordia Chicago pulled back to within two runs in the bottom of the fifth as Dug Matthews led off with a double and scored on an infield single by VanDuser
Both teams squandered some late scoring opportunities. W&J had 11 hits but turned them into only four runs.
“We could have expanded our lead and changed the complexion of the game,” said Mountain, who participated in the College World Series as a player at Allegheny.
Concordia Chicago threatened in both the eighth and ninth innings. The Cougars had VanDuser on second base with one out in the eighth but Brent Spohr lined out to Gatins, who doubled VanDuser off for an inning-ending double play. The Cougars had two on with two outs in the ninth against Helbing, who moved from catcher to pitcher. Hebling, however, struck out pinch-hitter Jacob Frank to end the game.
“We’re happy to be in the winners’ bracket the first day,” Mountain said. “We’re not just happy to be here.”