GAME SCORE: USI 4, Drury 2
Box Score (Sortable); Box Score (HTML)
The eighth-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team won its third NCAA Division II Midwest Regional championship with a 4-2 win over third-seeded Drury University Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. Top-seeded USI rose to 45-12 overall, while Drury saw their record fall to 44-13.
The Screaming Eagles advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship Series for the third time since 2007 under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. USI won the national championship in 2010 and reached the national semifinals in 2007.
The NCAA II National Championship Series is May 24-31 at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. USI’s first round opponent will be the University of Tampa (51-2), the South Region representative May 24 at noon (CDT). Tampa entered the NCAA II Tournament ranked number one nationally and the number one seed in the South Region.
The Eagles were the first to push a run across the plate when sophomore centerfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) singled in senior designated hitter Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) with two outs in the fourth. They would up the lead to 2-0 the next inning when sophomore rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) doubled, advanced to third on a fly out, and scored on an RBI-single by junior shortstop Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico).
Drury would bounce back to tie the game with a tally in the sixth and seventh innings, setting the stage for USI’s game-winning rally in the ninth.
With one out, sophomore first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) walked and promptly circled the bases with the eventual game-winning run on a RBI-double by Charvarria to right center. The Eagles would get an insurance run with two outs when sophomore catcher Ryan Bertram (Zionsville, Indiana) sent Chavarria home with a single up the middle.
Chavarria (4-0) would make the most of the 4-2 lead and closed out the game in the ninth for his fourth win of the season. He threw four innings in relief, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out a batter.
USI senior right-hander Jonathon Wandling (Evansville, Indiana) got the no-decision after throwing five innings on two days rest. Wandling (10-1), who was named the regional Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament team, struck out one and allowed one run on five hits and a one walk.
In addition to Wandling’s regional MVP and All-Tournament awards, senior second baseman Caleb Eickhoff (Evansville, Indiana), senior leftfielder Brad Wannemuehler (Evansville, Indiana), and senior right-handed pitcher David Toth (Danville, Illinois) also earned All-Tournament honors.
