CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- A five run eighth inning from the Indiana Wesleyan University baseball squad clinched the National Christian College Athletic Association Midwest Regional championship and an automatic birth to the NCCAA World Series.
With Indiana Wesleyan and host Cedarville (Ohio) University tied 1-1 after regulation in the deciding game three of the regional championship, the Wildcats plated five runs on three hits in the top of the eighth to capture their first lead of the game en route to the win.
On Thursday, the two teams split a doubleheader to force the decisive game three.
Cedarville (22-31) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Cedarville used a triple and an error to plate the unearned run.
Indiana Wesleyan (28-22) finally dented the scoreboard with the tying run in the sixth. After two outs were recorded, senior left fielder Shay Harden reached third base on an error by the right fielder. Freshman first baseman Kyle Beachy chased Harden home with a single up the middle. Beachy eventually reached third via two balks, but was stranded there to end the inning.
Neither team scored in the seventh as the teams headed to extra innings.
Freshman pinch hitter Jeremy Worrell opened the eighth inning with a walk for the Wildcats. Junior center fielder Kory Hollensteiner sacrificed Worrell to second, but reached base on a fielding error. Senior shortstop Jeff Pierce followed with a sac bunt as IWU had two runners in scoring position with one out.
Harden was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kyle Beachy then ripped the eventual winning hit to center to score pinch runner Dan Wagley. Senior designated hitter Nick Millspaugh added some insurance run as he pounded a double to right center field which scored two runs as IWU led 4-1. Beachy was thrown out at the plate.
Senior catcher Ryan Moore finished the Indiana Wesleyan scoring outburst with a two-run home run as the Wildcats led 6-1. Cedarville never threatened in their final at bat.
Senior pitcher Matt Burthay earned the victory with a complete game. He allowed one unearned run on four hits in eight innings. Burthay walked four and struck out six to improve to 4-4 on the season.
Kyle Beachy was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBIs. Moore finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs while Millspaugh was 1-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Indiana Wesleyan advances to the NCCAA World Series which will be played May 21-24 in Strothers, Ohio.
