Longhorns Use Big Inning to Advance and Eliminate Tigers
8/4/09
The third time was not the charm for Springfield as they made their third trip to the Stark Ballpark this season on Tuesday night. After jumping out to an early 5-0 lead, the Tigers saw the Longhorns battle back to snatch a win and a trip to the Region 2C Tournament.
Brandon Wilhelmi made sure Stark starter Brad Mathiowetz wouldn't repeat his no-hit bid from the last time he faced the Tigers, when he started the game with a base hit up the middle. With two down in the inning, Ryan Sturm put Springfield on the board when he launched a home run to left-center field. The Tigers left runners at second and third in the second and were unable to extend their lead. In the top of the third, Brady Schwab drew a lead-off walk. Ryan Sturm followed with an RBI double. After two were retired, Chris Sturm was hit by a pitch. Andy Moritz picked up two runs-batted-in when he singled, giving Springfield a 5-0 lead.
Springfield handed the ball to Jason Nachreiner for this third and deciding game of the series. He worked through some early walks and held the Longhorns scoreless and to just two hits through the first five innings. The bottom of the sixth saw the Longhorn bats catch fire. Nachreiner allowed four hits before being lifted for Matt Tews. Tews allowed a hit which drove in the tying run before getting the final out of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, a lead-off double along with a defensive lapse by Springfield allowed Stark to take the lead, 6-5.
The Longhorns went to the bullpen in the top of the third, bringing on Josh Hadley in relief. Hadley kept Springfield off the scoreboard scattering five hits during the final six and one-third innings. The Tigers final threat came in the top of the ninth when Marc Salazar laced a single up the middle. Tews followed with a hit down the right field line. The throw to the plate got away momentarily, but Stark recovered in time to tag Salazar as he attempted to score. Chris Sturm hit a long fly to left, but it was run down to end the ballgame and Springfield's season.
Matt Tews was tagged with the hard-luck loss, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Ryan Sturm and Andy Moritz paced the Tiger offense with two hits each. Brandon Wilhelmi, Matt Baier, Brady Schwab, Marc Salazar, Tews, and Ken Sather contributed one hit each to the Springfield total. The loss gives Stark the series win, two games to one, and ends Springfield's season with an overall record of 13-17. The Tigers wish the Longhorns the best of luck as they'll continue play on Wednesday night in the division championship game and begin region play on Saturday. Thank you to everyone who supported the Tigers along the way during the 2009 season! We'll see you in 2010!
Linescore
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | |
| Springfield | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 11 |
| Stark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | x | 6 | 8 | 2 | 8 |
Springfield Box
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | ||
| B. Wilhelmi, SS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Baier, 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Schwab, RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Frank, PR/RF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| R. Sturm, 3B | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2B, HR |
| Salazar, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Tews, DH/P | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Haseleu, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Nachreiner, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| C. Sturm, LF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | HP |
| Moritz, C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Sather, CF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | SAC |
| 37 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | ||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ||
| Nachreiner | 5 2/3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| Tews (L, 4-3) | 2 1/3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pictures
