UW-Whitewater, 27-18, lost to Millsaps College, 34-8, 12-4 in the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Regional Tournament hosted by Augustana College at Swanson/Brunner Stadium in Moline, Illinois Saturday. UW-W, 1-1 in the double elimination tournament, will face Wartburg College, 28-19, Sunday at 10:00 in an elimination game. The winner of the Whitewater-Wartburg game will play again at 1:00 Sunday. The regional is scheduled to end Monday, with the titlest joining seven other regional winners for the NCAA III World Series in Grand Chute, Wisconsin May 22-26. UW-Whitewater's Tournament Central web site
box score/plays
In contrast to the pitcher's duel in the regional opener, which UW-W won 3-2 over Washington University, Saturday's second round game saw both Whitewater and Millsaps repeatedly put runners on base and in scoring position.
Millsaps began in the top of the second, scoring five times on just two hits. Sophomore cleanup hitter Will Hawkins led off with a walk, followed by a walk to sophomore third baseman Josh Ordeneaux. Catcher Tyler Berry singled in the first run and, with runners at first and second, the Majors pulled off a double steal. Freshman second baseman Todd Barnthouse received the third walk of the inning to load the bases. A Warhawk error let in run number two and left the bases loaded. Senior outfielder Hayes Brian brought in run number three with a sacrifice fly with all runners advancing. After a ground out to third, senior Tait Hendrix singled in the last two runs of the inning.
Whitewater responded in its half of the second, with DH Matt Millar (Stoughton/Stoughton) leading off with a single and advancing to second on a Millsaps error. Back to back doubles by leftfielder Matt Beyer (Janesville/Parker) and first baseman Cory Trepanier (Oconto/Oconto) helped push two runs across, and shortstop Travis Wessels (Tomah/Tomah) knocked in Trepanier for the third run of the inning.
The Warhawks pulled within one, 5-4, in the third thanks to back to back walks opening the frame, followed by a wild pitch and a run coming in on Trepanier's ground out.
Whitewater had runners on the corners with no outs in the fourth, but Millsaps cut down the lead man on an attempted double steal and the next two batters were retired.
Millsaps added three more in the sixth, all with two outs. Ordeneaux walked and moved to second on a passed ball. With two outs Barnthouse walked, and he was followed by a RBI single by shortstop Billy Murphy and a two-run triple off the bat of Brian.
The Majors plated one more in the seventh on a walk to rightfielder Hunter Owen. Hawkins doubled, and one out later Owen scored on a Warhawk error, giving Millsaps a 9-4 lead.
Owens started the ninth the same way, with a walk. With one out Ordenaux walked, followed by a fielder's choice that left men at the corners. Barnthouse singled and advanced to third on an outfield error, and both runners scored. Barnthouse came home on a passed ball to give Millsaps a 12-4 lead, and the final score.
Whitewater out-hit Millsaps 13-7, with freshman centerfielder Tony Wong (Appleton/West) with a 3x4 day and a walk in his leadoff position. Millar, Wessels and third baseman Nick Rechlitz (Milwaukee/Marquette) contributed two hits each. Millsaps did not have a batter with a multi-hit game. Boomer Hudson, 5-2, picked up the win for the Majors with six innings of shutout relief. Junior righthander Jason Hooper (Lake Mills/Lake Mills), 7-4, went the first six innings and took the loss for UW-W.
UW-W is 9-12 when its opponent scores first, and 4-12 when the Warhawks score four or fewer runs.
For additional information: UW-W coach John Vodenlich
UW-Whitewater's NCAA Tournament Central site
