Misericordia University Athletics

Seventh-seeded Wesleyan University scored two runs in the both the eighth and ninth innings and erased a 3-0 deficit to advance the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Region Championship game with a 4-3 win over three-seeded Susquehanna University in thrilling fashion.

Jeff Blout picked up his sixth win of the season out of the bullpen, throwing a scoreless inning of relief after taking over for Wesleyan starter Sam Elias.  Elias who made his first start of the season threw seven strong innings, scattering hits, allowing three runs all of which were unearned.
 
Susquehanna drew first blood in the bottom half of the first inning.  Lead off man Ty Raubenstine reached on an error by the shortstop, was sacrificed to second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a two out single by Bryan Palsi.

The Crusaders used another error to tack on a single tally in the third inning.  Raubenstine once again led off the inning, reaching on an error.  He then advanced to second on a balk call and moved to third on a Dylan Glassmire single.  With runners on first and third and one out Palsi drove in his second run of the game with an sacrifice fly to center to give Susquehanna a 2-0 lead.

Wesleyan threatened to score the top of the sixth inning.  With runners on first and third and only one out the Crusaders went to the bullpen in favor of freshman Bobby Witteman.  Witteman induced a 6-4-3 double play ball to end the Cardinal threat.

Susquehanna pushed across their third run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tom Shields got the inning going with a lead off single to center and was quickly moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  After a Nick Kennedy fly out, Raubenstine reached for the third time in the game on an error by the Wesleyan shortstop, which allowed Shields to score from second to push the Crusader lead to 3-0.

The Cardinals finally got on the scoreboard in their half of the eighth inning.  With one out Andrew Yin and Donnie Cimino reached on back-to-back singles.  A Sam Goodwin-Boyd walk loaded the bases for Jonathan Dennett, who delivered with a two RBI single down the left field line.

Susquehanna went to the bullpen for the third time in the game, this time Liam Conboy was called upon.  Conboy got Guy Davidson ground into a fielder’s choice for the second out.  With two outs and runners on first and third Ellis Schaefer hit a line drive to center but Ty Raubenstine made a great diving catch of the game to prevent further damage.

Wesleyan put together a huge two out rally in the top of the ninth inning.  With two outs and no one on the Cardinals used a single by Harbison and a Yin walk to put runners on first and second for Cimino.  With two strikes and the season on the line Cimino tripled past a diving left fielder to drive in the game tying and go ahead run to give Wesleyan its first lead of the contest.

Nick Cooney who threw a complete game on Thursday for the Cardinals came out of the bullpen to earn his first save of the year striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth.

The Cardinals were led at the plate by Cimino who broke out of a brief regional slump to go 2-4 with two RBI including the game winning triple.  Andrew Yin went 2-4 with two runs scored while Nick Miceli also recorded two hits.

Susquehanna’s season ends with a 30-14 record and third place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Regional.  Matt Smith, the Crusaders closer picked up the loss on the mound allowing two runs on two hits while working the ninth inning.

Kyle Semmel picked up three hits for the Crusaders while Bryan Palsi went 1-3 with a pair of RBIs.  Raubenstine reached base three times and scored two runs, he also made three spectacular diving plays in center field.

Wesleyan improves to 31-12 on the season a new school record for wins in a season and will take on Baldwin-Wallace for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Title.  The Cardinals will need to beat the Yellow Jackets twice to advance to the Division III College World Series.