IU Southeast wins RSC Baseball Championship over Point Park (Pa.)
IU Southeast wins RSC Baseball Championship over Point Park (Pa.)
By IU Southeast Sports Information
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The No. 18-ranked IU Southeast baseball team defeated Point Park 3-1 and 8-2 to claim the 2021 River States Conference Baseball Championship on Monday. The Grenadiers were also the RSC regular-season champions advancing tournment runner-up Point Park to NAIA nationals as well.
IU Southeast (45-14) opened the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the second inning. Derek Wagner reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on a double by Ben Berenda. An RBI groundout by Jake Scott followed, and a single by Daunte DeCelo made it 2-0.
Starter Hunter Kloke (9-1) shut down the Point Park offense for the first five innings as he allowed hits and struck out three.
After an RBI double by Jouseph Renovales cut the lead in half in the seventh, IU Southeast answered back with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Clay Woeste was hit by pitch and moved to second a sacrifice bunt. He moved to third on a fielder's choice. Then he scored from third when Marco Romero was caught in a rundown at first and tagged out after Woeste crossed home plate.
Conner Fries allowed one run on three hits in two innings of relief, and Jacob Frankel slammed the door in the eighth and the ninth innings for his fourth save. He allowed one hit and struck out three of the six batters he faced.
Drew Hensley was 2-for-3 in the win. Christian Negron took the loss for Point Park to move to 6-3 on the year. Jouseph Renovales and Luis Mujica each had two hits in the loss.
With the win, IU Southeast forced a deciding game for the championship.
The Grenadiers jumped out to a quick lead with a run in the first inning. Clay Woeste was hit by a pitch, and Drew Hensley singled. After Woeste was caught trying to steal third for the second out, a RBI single by Marco Romero brought in Hensley.
IU Southeast added a pair of runs in the third inning with another two-out rally. Clay Woeste was hit and stole second, and Brodty Tanksley was intentionally walked. Then Derek Wagner drew a walk to load the bases. A two-run single to left-center by Ben Berenda padded the Grenadier lead.
Point Park got back in the game in the fourth when Luis Hernandez tripled down the right-field line to drive in Edwin De La Rosa and Emille Morillo.
But once again, the Grenadiers responded in the next half inning. Derek Wagner doubled to left to score Drew Hensley, who was hit by a pitch and stole second, to extend the lead to 4-2.
The Pioneers had runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh and one out, but Frankel entered and promptly sent Renovales and Ed Pfluger down swinging.
The Grenadiers put the game away with a four-run ninth inning. Clay Woeste singled and Hensley and Tanksley drew back-to-back walks. Marco Romero and Brandon Boxer each followed with RBI singles and Tyler Mills scored on an error.
Cade Reynolds (5-2) worked five strong innings for his fifth win. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits and struck out five. Brenden Bube worked the final inning and secured the Grenadiers' first conference tournament title since 2011.
Drew Hensley was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Marco Romero was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Derek Wagner was 2-for-3 and Jake Scott was 2-for-5. Ben Berenda drove in three in the win. Nicholas Beardsley started and worked two and two-thirds to take the loss.
IU Southesat head coach Ben Reel has now won eight regular season and three conference tournament championships in his 13 years at the helm of the Grenadiers.
IU Southeast and Point Park will learn their location and opponents for the NAIA Opening Round on Thursday at 5 p.m.