SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In their long-awaited return to the NCAA tournament, the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds defeated the No. 21-ranked and second-seeded University of Illinois-Springfield in an 11-inning marathon. The Hounds now move on in the tournament to face the victor of GLVC-foe Maryville and the Ashland on Friday, May 19, at 2 p.m.
In the contest,
Drew Donaldson proved why he is one of the best hitters in the country, recording four RBI and a dinger.
Austin Bestul and
Wyatt Phillips were the big stoppers out of the pen, with Bestul going multiple frames of shutdown work for his fourth win of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds, like in most of their victories this season, were the aggressors in the first frame, scratching across a trio of runs.
Caleb Vaughn slapped a single in left field making it three straight that reached and plating the first run.
Denton Shepler smoked a ball to third, but the wheels of Donaldson outpaced the throw allowing another to score.
Nick Lukac later would run into a double play, not before scoring the third run of the inning.
The Prairie-Stars fought back however, plating a triage of runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, tying the ballgame 3-3. But, with one swing of the bat, Donaldson changed that narrative, giving the Hounds their second lead of the day, 5-3.
The up and down nature of the game stayed true from there, with the Prairie Stars taking the lead back in the seventh off of a three run homer to deep left field. But, the "Cardiac Hounds" never sleep and they battled.
An
Adam Rakestraw RBI-groundout ignited the eighth inning rally.
Brandon DeWitt, who had started the game as the pitcher and then moved into center field, slapped a ball to short and with fire at his feet beat out the throw to make it 8-7 UIS. That passed the baton to the man that already had done damage once, Donaldson, who with bases loaded singled into center to score both
Easton Good and
Isaac Bair. An error by the pitcher later made it 10-8 Hounds.
But the No. 21-ranked "P-Stars" refused to quit, answering with a two-spot in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Eventually the contest would go to extras thanks to gutty pitching by Bestul, setting the state for
Zack Williams to play hero ball. With runners at first and second, Williams drilled a ball into center for the eventual decider.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The punchies were flowing from the Hound pitchers, striking out the Prairie Stars 18 times on the day.
- DeWitt, out of the leadoff spot, continues to be solid, going 3-5 with three runs score and an RBI to his day.
-
Logan Peterson was the jam stopper on the day, coming in with a runner at second, getting two Ks and a flyout to end the frame and keep the score tied.
UP NEXT
The familiar foes do not end for the Greyhounds in the NCAA tournament, as they will face the Maryville Saints on Friday, May 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
