MEQUON, Wis. – Survive and advance – The Edgewood College Baseball team did just that on Friday at the NACC Tournament. The Eagles earned their first NACC Tournament victory in 12 years with an extra-inning walk off against Concordia Chicago. They followed that up with a thrilling run-rule victory over No. 1 seeded Aurora University in the afternoon. The Eagles took Concordia Chicago by a score of 4-3 (10 Inn.) before an 11-1 (8 Inn.) final in the afternoon.
EAGLES 4, COUGARS 3 – 10 INNINGS
- No. 5 seeded Edgewood College (23-20) began day two of the NACC Tournament in a win or go home game against No. 6 seeded Concordia Chicago (19-21). Concordia Chicago struck first, taking a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning. The Eagles quickly responded, scoring two runs and taking a 2-1 lead that would hold until the eighth inning.
- The Eagles first run came as a result of a throwing error from the Cougars. Connor Goodwin put down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, and Alex Prindle crossed home plate as a result of the error on the play. Jacob Slonim drove in the Eagles second run on a single to the shortstop.
- Neither team could get much going at the plate in the next six innings, as no more than one hit was recorded until the eighth frame. In the top of the eighth inning the Cougars would plate two runs and take a 3-2 lead as a result of errors from the Eagles defense.
- With runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth inning, Prindle scored the Eagles third and tying run on a sacrifice fly from Joseph Kalafut. One inning later, the Eagles would load the bases and a walk off single to right center from Ryan Ambrosy knocked off the Cougars.
- Ambrosy went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Jackson DeChristina notched three hits and scored a run. Prindle added two hits and two runs in the victory.
- Kyle Semrad earned the win for the Eagles, throwing .2 innings and striking out one in the tenth. Eric Nelson got the start and was key in the victory, striking out five Cougars. Leo Stone came in relief, striking out two through two innings pitched.
EAGLES 11, SPARTANS 1 – 8 INNINGS
- A combination of 15 hits, a stellar eight innings pitched from Kyle Jungers, and solid defense earned the Eagles an 11-1 run-rule victory over Aurora University (33-9). Edgewood College took down nationally ranked, No. 1 seeded, NACC Regular Season Champions Aurora on Friday afternoon to advance in the NACC Tournament.
- The Spartans scored first, as Sartori homered to left field in the top of the first inning. From then on, it was all Edgewood College, scoring 11 unanswered runs for the eight-inning victory.
- Edgewood College scored a whopping six runs in the bottom of the first inning. It all began with a double to left center field from Kalafut, scoring Goodwin. Another double, this time off the bat of Jacob Slonim scored Sagan. Tim Kelly got the Eagles bench on their feet, knocking a three-run home run over the left field fence to give Edgewood College a 6-1 lead. Most notably, Kelly's home run was the first of his career.
- Edgewood College tacked on a run in the second inning, scoring off a Kalafut single. A two RBI single from Slonim gave the Eagles a 9-1 lead through six innings.
- The Eagles came away with the run-rule victory in the eighth inning. Kelly once again proved to be a spark at the plate, sending a single to center field. Sagan and Goodwin scored on the play for the thrilling win.
- Jungers was solid on the mound for Edgewood College, pitching all eight innings, striking out four Spartans and scattering six hits.
- Slonim went 4-for-4 at the plate with 4 RBI, a run, and two doubles. Sagan, always consistent at the plate, recorded three hits and three runs. Goodwin knocked two hits and scored four runs. Kalafut notched a double, two hits, two RBI, and a run. Kelly added two hits, a home run, and five RBI.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Edgewood College earns their first NACC Tournament victory since the 2010 season. In 2010 the Eagles defeated Concordia Wisconsin 8-7 and Rockford 8-2.
- Sagan added a single season record on Friday. He recorded a walk vs Concordia Chicago and now owns the record for most walks in a season, 33. The previous record was held by Dan Gugel, who drew 32 walks during the 2009 season.
UP NEXT
- Edgewood College continues to roll through elimination games in the NACC Tournament. The Eagles will play St. Norbert on Saturday. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. from Kapco Park in Mequon, Wis.
