For the second time in the program’s history, 22nd-ranked Emory University will play for the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship, as the Eagles claimed a 10-7 win over the sixth-ranked University of St. Thomas on Monday.
It was the second win of the day for the Eagles, who defeated 12th-ranked Southern Maine 15-3 earlier in the day, and have won four-straight games at the NCAA Championships to advance through the losers’ bracket into the National Championship game. The Eagles will take on the third-ranked University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, needing to win twice to claim the first National Championship in the program’s history.
Emory, now 38-12 will be making its second ever appearance in the National Championship game, after reaching the title game in 2007. Tomorrow’s game is scheduled for an 12:00 PM ET start on Tuesday, with the second game, if necessary, to follow at 3:30 PM ET.
Emory took its first lead of the game with a two-out RBI single from Lake in the sixth, and then added on a five-run inning in the seventh, including an RBI double from Jared Welch, an RBI single from Jordan Selbach, and a two-RBI double from Brandon Hannon to give the Eagles a 10-4 lead.
St. Thomas would eat away at the lead with two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth, and bring the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Gross would shut the door to put the Eagles in the Championship game.
Lake drove in three runs for Emory in the game, extending his program record to 69 this season. Eight Emory batters picked up hits in the game, and seven had at least two hits in the contest. In Emory’s two games on Monday, the Eagles combined to score 25 runs on 32 hits.
Relief pitcher Bill Ferderer took the loss for St. Thomas, falling to 1-1 on the year. The Tommies, the fourth team the Eagles have eliminated in the World Series, ended their campaign with a 39-9 record.
Emory is now 13-2 in elimination games during their last three NCAA Tournament appearances.
