Shenandoah Wins in 10th to Force Winner-Take-All Showdown

Frankie Ritter smacked a RBI double in the 10th inning to bring around the deciding run in a 6-4 extra inning triumph over Kean University to force a winner-take-all "if" game for the regional crown.
Frankie Ritter smacked a RBI double in the 10th inning to bring around the deciding run in a 6-4 extra inning triumph over Kean University to force a winner-take-all "if" game for the regional crown.

UNION, N.J. --- Shenandoah University forced the 'if' game Sunday at the Union Regional of the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament with a 6-4, 10-inning victory over host Kean.

Shenandoah (34-13) now faces the Cougars (31-15) in a winner-take-all championship with a 4:15 start.

IN DEPTH

Trailing 2-0 after 2 and 4-2 after six, the Hornets began their comeback with two runs in the eighth before scoring a pair of runs in the 10th

In the eighth, a pair of Kean pitchers issued four bases-on-balls in a span of five hitters, allowing Keegan Woolford to come home with the squad's third run of the game. Henry Delavergne then reached on a fielder's choice, just beating out an inning-ending double play, to drive home Luke Nussman with the tying run.

In the 10th, Frankie Ritter drove in the game-winning run with a double into the left field corner – pinch runner Aaron Torres, who came on after Matt Moon reached on a two-base error, scored on the play.

On pitch later, Robert Marcelle singled home Ritter.

In the bottom of the frame, junior closer Gerard DePhillips (1-1), who had come on in the fifth, got a groundout and after the Cougars put two runners on, induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the contest.

DePhillips, the nation's saves leader, went 4 2/3 to earn his first win of the season.

Shenandoah got its first run in the third as Moon led off the frame with a walk, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Marcelle then drove Moon home with a single through the left side.

Woolford had his 14th home run of the season, a solo shot, in the fourth.

Tristan Baker saw his 24-game hitting streak snapped after being held without a hit in five at-bats.

--- This release is courtesy of the Shenandoah University athletic communications department. ---
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