In a game dominated by pitchers, it was a defensive miscues in the bottom of the ninth inning that allowed UW-Whitewater to defeat Washington University 3-2 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Regional Tournament hosted by Augustana College in Moline, Illinois at Swanson/Brunner Stadium Thursday. UW-W, 27-17, will play Millsaps College, 33-8 Saturday at 4:00 in the second round of the double elimination tournament. Millsaps defeated Wartburg College 5-3 Thursday. The tournament is scheduled to end Monday, with the regional titlest joining seven other regional winners in the Division III World Series in Grand Chute, Wisconsin May 22-26. UW-Whitewater's Tournament Central site
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Washington University's Zander Lehman reached first on a fielder's choice but kept going to second on a throwing error by the Warhawks. Lehman advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a two out single by Gregg Kennedy. Warhawk hurler Aaron Dott (Green Lake/Green Lake) struck out two in the inning, giving him one hundred for the season.
Remy Midkiff led off the third with a single and Lehman came through again, tripling to up the Wash U lead to 2-0. Dott, again, closed things down with two strikeouts in the inning.
Dott and Washington senior righthander Brian Williams shut things down until Whitewater came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs freshman shortstop Travis Wessels (Tomah/Tomah) reached on a two out single. The Bear outfielder misplayed a long fly hit by third baseman Nick Rechlitz (Milwaukee/Marquette) and Wessels came in to cut the lead in half, 2-1 after seven.
Wash U advanced a runner to third in the eighth, but did not score, and Whitewater went 1-2-3. Washington followed suit, three up and three down in the top of the ninth.
That set up an eventful ninth inning. Tony Wong (Appleton/West) singled and Matt Millar (Stoughton/Stoughton) sacrificed him to second. Cory Trepanier (Oconto/Oconto) hit a fly ball that fell into the Bermuda Triangle, putting runners at first and second with one out. Williams got the next batter to pop up. The Bears' catcher tried to pick off pinch runner Ryan Leavitt (Merrill/Merrill) and the errant throw went down the line as Wong scored the tying run. Rechlitz, the next batter up hit the ball to center field where the fielder misplayed the ball as Leavitt came home with the winning run.
Both pitchers went the distance, Dott for just the third time this season. He struck out 12, walked two and gave up one earned run in raising his record to 6-5. Dott has struck out thirteen in a game twice this season. Dott's should also be credited with saving the Warhawk pitching staff in a tournament situation where a staff can be used up in a hurry. Williams, now 8-3, struck out six and did not walk a batter or give up an earned run.
Millar and Wessels led the Warhawk offense with two hits each. The Bears' Midkiff went 3x4 with a walk to lead both teams.
For additional information: regional web site by Augustana
