St. Norbert Pulls Out Extra-Inning Thriller Over Concordia

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, April 27, 2017 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MEQUON - St. Norbert College extended the game and pulled out a hard-fought 3-2 win in 11 innings over Concordia University Wisconsin in a non-conference matchup between a pair of NCAA regionally ranked teams at Kapco Park.

St. Norbert (22-8), ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division III Central Region, scored a run on two hits and an error to top the Falcons (21-9) - the No. 5-ranked team in the Midwest Region.

Hunter Larson opened the top of the 11th inning with a single. Larson was retired at second on a grounder by Tyler Banovich, but the double-play relay to first was thrown away allowing Banovich to advance to second. Jacob Raeder was hit by a pitch and Griffin Jack had an infield single to load the bases with one out. On a strikeout, a wild pitch allowed Banovich to scamper home with the eventual game-winning run.

St. Norbert trailed 2-1 entering the eighth inning. Sean Grant opened the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Sean Ferraro. Derek Klegin singled and advanced to second on an error to put runners at second and third with one out. Larson's flyout to center field was deep enough to score Grant on a sacrifice fly.

Concordia opened the scoring in the third inning but St. Norbert tied the game 1-1 in its half of the fourth. Banovich singled to start the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Raeder struck out but needed to be retired at first base, allowing Banovich to score.

The Falcons took the lead with an unearned run in the sixth inning.

St. Norbert finished with eight hits, with no player registering a multi-hit game.

Carson Jacques earned the win in relief with 1 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Jake McMahon started, going seven innings allowing six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Tyler Rouze worked 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing three hits with no walks and two strikeouts.