ROCKFORD, Mich. – The 2 seed Indiana Tech defeated 7 seed Lawrence Tech 6-4 to start the day and then used a complete game performance by
Andrew VanOeveren to take down 4 seed Cleary 13-2 in eight innings to advance to the WHAC Championship.
Lawrence Tech took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Indiana Tech.
An RBI single by
Jack Ferguson in the top of the third made it 2-1. An RBI fielder's choice by
Noah McEldowney tied the game at 2-2.
Lawrence Tech took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third.
An RBI single by
Jorge Santana in the fourth tied the game at 3-3. A two-RBI single by
Derek Ruiz gave Indiana Tech a 5-3 lead.
Another RBI single by
Derek Ruiz in the sixth put Indiana Tech ahead 6-3. Lawrence Tech scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-4, but neither team scored for the remainder of the game as Indiana Tech secured the victory.
Derek Ruiz led Indiana Tech with two hits and three RBI.
Garrett Rainey also had two hits. The Warriors stole five bases in the win.
Ben Hammond got the start and the win, allowing four runs in six innings of work.
Danny May threw 0.2 scoreless innings, and
Colton Leatherman followed with 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up his 11
th save of the year, which breaks the single season save record at Indiana Tech.
Cleary took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first in the nightcap. Indiana Tech responded with a run in the second to tie the game at 1-1.
Despite this being the third day of the tournament and second game of the day for both teams, the starting pitching was rock solid as the score remained 1-1 through five innings.
Indiana Tech took a 2-1 lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by
Jack Ferguson, but Cleary responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 2-2.
Indiana Tech took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh on an error.
Brycen Hannah was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth to make it 4-2. A bases clearing triple by
Noah McEldowney broke the game open and gave Tech a 7-2 lead. An RBI double by
Jacoby Roberson made it 8-2, and an RBI single by
Jorge Santana made it 9-2.
Derek Ruiz continued his clutch hitting, driving in two more runs with a single to make it 11-2. A wild pitch made it 12-2, and an RBI single by
Brycen Hannah made it 13-2, which would be the final score in eight innings.
Jorge Santana led Indiana Tech with three hits.
Noah McEldowney had a team-high three RBI.
Andrew VanOeveren got the start and the win, throwing an eight-inning complete game. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five. His previous Indiana Tech career high was 4.1 innings on April 25.
Indiana Tech moves to 40-14 on the year. The Warriors will take on 3 seed Madonna tomorrow for the WHAC Championship. The Warriors will have to beat the Crusaders twice as the WHAC Tournament is double elimination.
