SAGINAW, Mich. – The University of Indianapolis baseball team's hot streak has continued as they survived a tight-as-nail game one of the NCAA Midwest Super Regional, taking it 12-11.
The big highlight of the day – outside of the two three-run homers by the Hounds – came in the fourth inning. With runners on first and third,
Drew Donaldson came up to the plate and with one swing of the bat he became the new career leader in hits while wearing the Crimson and Grey as he hammered up the middle for an RBI and the record.
Donaldson's hit marked the 235th of his illustrious career, surpassing Macy Holdsworth's mark of 234 that he set from the 2016 season through the 2019 season.
Outside of Donaldson's record, it was a day for the offense as they tallied double-digit runs for the third time this postseason run. Both
Will Spear and
Luis Vergara tallied three-run bombs, Vergara's for the lead in the top of the eighth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds stepped on the throat of the Cardinals early, hanging a six-spot on their head in the first.
Cole Hampton, the birthday boy, got the train rolling with a RBI-double, followed by a
Dakota Sill 2 RBI single into center field that left it 3-0. Another double, this time by
Nick Lukac, set the table for Spear as he demolished a ball to left.
That lead held through three more frames, but a big inning by the Cardinals in the fourth gave them a lead they held onto until the eighth.
Trailing 9-8 with just six more outs to their name, the Hounds needed some fire and they found it. After a Sill leadoff walk and an error the defense, Vergara put a ball into orbit to regift the Hounds the lead 11-9. Another run, this time by Donaldson brought it to 12-9.
Needing six big outs, the Hounds turned to
E.J. White and he did just that, picking up his 13th save of the season with two innings pitched. Before that,
Payton Plym was massive out of the 'penn, going 3 & 2/3 of one run baseball for his seventh victory of the year.
HOUND BYTES
Head Coach Al Ready on Drew Donaldson snapping the record…
"What a special young player Donaldson is, he's a generation player. He's meant a lot to our program. He's gotten every big hit imaginable in the last couple of years. He's been selfless, taking his walks this year, he's been pitching different since being a First Team All-American and he's kept being selfless and passing the torch and that speaks even higher to this accomplishment… in order to win a championship, you have to have a guy like
Drew Donaldson."
Drew Donaldson on breaking the record…
"It's pretty nice, it's a really good feeling. Obviously not something I tried to do while I was here, but it's pretty cool that I got to."
Donaldson on immediately giving the ball to his dad…
"My dad was the first one to put a baseball bat in my hands when I was three, so it was nice to share that moment with him. I know, that out of everyone, even my mom, he's the proudest and he's why I am where I am."
UP NEXT
It's one more win for the Hounds for them to punch their ticket back to Cary N.C. for the NCAA Championships. They battle Saginaw tomorrow at 11 a.m. and the if necessary game will take place thirty minutes after the first.
