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 Tournament MVP Kory Twede drove in the tying run in the ninth and knocked in two overall |
LORAIN, Ohio – Senior Kory Twede was not going to let his season end on Sunday as he plated the first run of the game and eventually tied the contest with a single in the ninth inning, setting up a dramatic 6-2 victory in 12 innings over UIC in the 2009 Horizon League Championship game. Alex Kaminsky and Michael Schum combined to toss 12 innings, allowing only two runs – one earned – and stranded 13 base runners to give WSU their third Horizon League Tournament title and bid into an NCAA Regional.
The two teams played six scoreless innings, with both starting pitchers tossing into the sixth inning. The two teams combined to strand nine base runners, seven in scoring position, through the first six frames.
The WSU offense would strike first in the seventh when Casey McGrew led off the inning with a single through the left side. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Twede struck with a single through the left side of the infield, past a diving Raphael Garcia, and McGrew slid home safely to give WSU a 1-0 advantage.
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UIC would answer in the eighth with a pair of runs – one unearned – to grab a 2-1 lead. A throwing error by Aaron Fields would start the inning and Brett Schafer would drive in the first RBI with a single to tie the game. Ty Rubio would plate the second run of the game for UIC with a single, but McGrew would gun down Schafer at the plate.
Jeff Mercer would get things started in the ninth as he would strike out swinging, but reach on a wild pitch. After McGrew moved the senior to second with a sacrifice bunt, Tristan Moore would pinch run for Mercer and Twede would strike again with two outs. This time, the senior sent a base knock into the outfield and Moore crossed the plate to knot the game at 2-2. It was his second RBI of the game and came with an 0-1 count on Twede.
Each team left runners on base in the tenth and Schum retired the Flames in order in the 11th to set up the Raiders rally.
Fields would atone for his throwing error in the eight, with a one-out walk to get things started against UIC reliever Derrick Miramontes in the 12th. Moore, who stayed in the game to play first, then laced a double to left-center field and Fields rounded third and headed home. The junior would collide with UIC catcher Steven Humble, jarring the ball loose, and touched the plate to give WSU a 3-2 edge.
After an intentional walk to McGrew, the Flames would draw the infield in and Quentin Cate would hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop. Moore was caught at home, but the throw was off the plate and the freshman would dive in just before the tag to put WSU ahead, 4-2. Ryan Ashe would add a pair of RBI’s with a single following that play and the lead was 6-2 and left the Raiders just three outs away from the victory.
Schum allowed the first two runners of the 12th to reach, but the Raiders turned their second double play of the game to collect the first two outs of the inning. Jason Ganek then stepped to the plate and flared a shot down the right field line that Fields ranged over and caught to send the Raiders into an NCAA Regional. The dugout emptied and a Rowdy Raider Dogpile commenced on the pitchers mound at Pipe Yard Stadium.
It was the first Horizon League Championship game decided in extra innings and gave WSU their third conference tournament title. This will be the fourth postseason appearance for WSU and the third NCAA Tournament appearance. WSU appeared in the Knoxville Regional in 1994, made a NCAA Play-In Series appearance in 1995, went to the Corvallis Regional in 2006 and will advance to a to-be-determined Regional series this season.
Twede was named the 2009 Horizon League Tournament MVP as he was four-for-five with two RBI’s. Moore scored twice and had an RBI, while McGrew walked twice, scored two runs and was hit by a pitch in the contest. Moore collected his third career game winning hit in the contest, while R.J. Gundolff had his 16-game hitting streak end in the contest.
Schum picked up the victory with a career-high 6.1 innings of work to improve to 5-6 on the season. The right-hander fanned five batters, walked only one and allowed two runs – only one earned – on seven hits. Kaminsky tossed 5.2 innings on three day’s rest and held the Flames to only four hits with three strikeouts in a no decision.
Wright State placed six players on the All-Tournament Team as Garrett Gray, Kaminsky, Ashe, Twede, Mercer and Gundolff were all named to the team. Twede was named the US Army Player of the Game to go along with his Horizon League Tournament MVP honor.
The Raiders improve to 33-28 and will find out when and where they will travel for the 2009 NCAA Regional on Monday, May 25 at 12:30. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will take place on Live on ESPN starting at 12:30.
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