No. 13 Racers Triumph in Walk-off Fashion
LIMA, Ohio – A recent addition to the schedule pitted the NAIA No. 13 University of Northwestern Ohio Racers against the College of St. Joseph (Vt.) Fighting Saints in a single game on Thursday afternoon from the St. Rita's Sports Complex in Lima.
UNOH (30-10) battled CSJ (15-19) throughout the contest before falling behind late, putting the potential 13-game winning streak in jeopardy as the Racers trailed 6-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth. However, the Racers proved why they are among the best hitting teams in the NAIA by claiming the contest in walk-off fashion, 7-6.
Following a three-run top of the ninth inning by the Fighting Saints, the late heroics certainly came in clutch for UNOH. Erich Gonzalez got thing rolling with a leadoff single to right center field before the speedy catcher advanced to third on a Jeff Cardenas double down the left field line. Cardenas' double forced a pitching change for CSJ, but Junior Gomez waited at the plate.
Despite not claiming the single-season home run record as his own in the at-bat, Gomez proved capable under pressure by hitting a single through the left side to score Gonzalez. He was then followed up by Blake Maines who ripped a RBI single of his own to right field as Cardenas crossed the plate to even the score with no outs.
Racer head coach Kory Hartman turned to small ball with his first baseman at the plate as James Cardona advanced the runners to second and third with a perfectly-executed sacrifice bunt.
Looking for a double play ball or easy force out at the plate, CSJ intentionally walked Jonathan Rodriguez to set up the one out, bases loaded opportunity for the pinch hitter, Carlos Baerga, Jr.
Baerga stepped to the plate and ripped a grounder to Petar Rumora, the Saints' first baseman, for the unassisted groundout. However, the runners got off to great jumps as Rumora did not have a play at any of the bases with Gomez scoring safely to secure the victory.
After coming into relief with two runners on and one out in the top of the ninth, Abrahan Flete (2-4) was credited with the victory. UNOH used a total of seven pitchers in the midweek non-conference contest as the Racers looked to build experience to the staff heading into the final stretch of the season.
UNOH will now travel to Livonia, Mich. to take on the Madonna University Crusaders in a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 15. Game one is scheduled for a 1 PM first pitch. The third and final game of the series is slated for Wednesday, April 19 at Comerica Park in Detroit.