RIVER FOREST, Ill. – In the 10th inning and with two outs, senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference second baseman Kyle Pennington (Wadsworth) had the game-winning single to right field in a 5-4 walk-off victory against Saint John's (Minn.) University in the first round of the NCAA Division lll Sub-Regional Tournament, hosted by No. 1-nationally ranked Concordia University of Chicago (Ill.), on Cougar Field. Saint John's (32-13) led 4-0 and scored its four runs off of eight base hits.
BW (26-15) completed a four-run comeback with five runs off of 17 total base hits and just one extra base knock to advance to the winner's bracket final tomorrow against the hosts, CUC, which defeated Buena Vita (Iowa) College, 2-0, in the first game of the day. The Yellow Jackets plated two runs in the fifth, one in the seventh and tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the eighth. BW scored the game-winner off Pennington's single in the 10th that scored junior Academic All-OAC center fielder Brandon Dim (Solon).
Pennington led the offense with a career-tying six at-bats and a career-tying three hits, including the walk-off single and produced two runs batted-in (RBI). Senior All-OAC catcher Asa Adams (Sarver, Pa./ Knoch) had a career-tying three hits in a career-tying six at-bats, including a game-tying RBI double in the eighth. He also scored a run. Dim (Solon) set a career-high with his three hits in a career-tying six at-bats and scored the game-winning run. Sophomore third baseman Tony LoParo (Elyria/ Catholic) went 2-for-5 and scored a run and junior left fielder Jacob Bonner (Akron/ Archbishop Hoban) went 2-for-5. Junior designated hitter Sam Sustersic (Richfield/ Revere) and senior All-OAC first baseman Philip Wells (Buffalo, N.Y./ Saint Joseph's Collegiate) each recorded one hit and one RBI. Senior two-time Academic All-OAC right fielder Reese Albright (Parma/ North Royalton) had one hit and a run scored.
On the mound for BW was senior American Baseball Coaches Association/ Rawlings All-Mideast Region and two-time All-OAC right-handed pitcher Danny Cody (Medina/ Brecksville-Broadview Hts.). The righty dealt seven innings, allowed four runs (two earned) off of five hits and struck out six. Senior All-OAC left-handed pitcher Jack Raines (Akron/ Archbishop Hoban) earned his fourth win on the season. He tossed three scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out two.
BW will play tomorrow at 12 p.m against host Concordia (Ill.) University of Chicago at Cougar Field.
