Battle Creek 9, Green Bay 8
Battle Creek wins series 2-0
The Battle Creek Bombers overcame a three-run deficit with a four-run 7th inning to take down the Green Bay Bullfrogs and advance to the Summer Collegiate World Series for the first time in franchise history. Jimmy Martinez (Western Michigan) hit a towering two-run double to right field in that 7th inning that put the Bombers in front for good. Tyler Hall (Central Michigan) was a catalyst the entire night for Battle Creek. He had three hits, including two triples, scored twice and drove in three runs in the victory. The Bombers out-hit the Bullfrogs in the game 14-13. The game had four lead changes because of the three big innings. Down 1-0 in the 2nd, Battle Creek scored three runs, including two on a single by Troy White (Northern Illinois). Green Bay got five runs back in the 3rd inning to take a 6-3 lead. Ty Filliben (Samford) had an RBI single and Joe Betcher (Illinois-Chicago) knocked in two with base hit. Two other runs scored on errors and the Bullfrogs were looking good. The teams traded single-runs two times over the next four innings to make it an 8-5 game headed to the bottom of the 7th when Battle Creek erupted for a four-spot. Hall drove in a run on a triple to open the floodgates in the inning capped off by Martinez’s two-run double. Kevin Schultz (USAO) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless inning to earn the win. Kristian Calibuso (Eastern Michigan) tossed a scoreless 8th and 9th to get the save. Green Bay did have a huge threat in the 9th with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out. Calibuso struck out the next two and got a fly out to end the game. Battle Creek now awaits the winner of the North Divisional Playoff Series to learn the opponent and location of Game One of the Summer Collegiate World Series on Thursday.
Alexandria 4, Mankato 3 (10 innings)
Series tied 1-1
The Alexandria Beetles scored a run on a bases loaded walk in the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie and force a decisive Game Three in Alexandria on Wednesday. Chad Bunting (California) battled some tough pitches before drawing a walk from Matt Mazzoni (Fresno Pacific) on a 3-2 pitch with two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th inning. Kevin Vangheluwe (Michigan) pitched 3 2/3 hitless innings out of the bullpen to shutdown Mankato and earn the victory. Beetles’ catcher Robert Case (St. John’s) hit a two-run double in the second inning to give Alexandria the early lead. First baseman Rick Devereaux (Pittsburgh) had three hits including the game’s only home run, which put the Beetles ahead 3-0 in the 5th. Mankato began to battle back in the 6th inning by scoring two runs. Right fielder Steve Nyisztor (Rutgers) drove in a run with a single and Shaun Cooper (Utah) scored later in the inning on a double-play with the bases loaded. A Cooper sacrifice fly in the 7th tied the game at 3-3. The MoonDogs didn’t get anyone else on base the remainder of the game, while the Beetles missed some chances. Alexandria left the bases full in the 8th inning and left two aboard in the 9th before finally scoring the game-winning run in the 10th inning.
Playoff Schedule
North Division
Monday, August 15
Mankato 10, Alexandria 4
Tuesday, August 16
Alexandria 4, Mankato 3 (10 innings)
Wednesday, August 17
Mankato at Alexandria, 7:05 PM central
MAN: Sam Selman (LHP, SO, Vanderbilt, 2-4, 3.89) vs.
ALX: Matt Fyffe (RHP, JR, Eastern Kentucky, 4-4, 4.82)
South Division
Monday, August 15
Battle Creek 10, Green Bay 3
Tuesday, August 16
Battle Creek 9, Green Bay 8
Summer Collegiate World Series
Thursday, August 18
Battle Creek at Mankato, 7:05 PM central
OR
Alexandria at Battle Creek, 7:05 PM eastern
Friday, August 19
Mankato at Battle Creek, 7:05 PM eastern
OR
Battle Creek at Alexandria, 7:05 PM central
Saturday, August 20
Mankato at Battle Creek, 7:05 PM eastern (if necessary)
OR
Battle Creek at Alexandria, 7:05 PM central (if necessary)