CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- As the clock struck midnight on the University of Lynchburg baseball team's NCAA Division III baseball national championship debut, the Hornets were still locked in a close matchup with Wisconsin-La Crosse.
As the fourth game of the day at PG Cares Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium, first pitch was originally scheduled for 7:45 p.m. local. After a 1:45 rain delay in the Salisbury-East Texas Baptist game prior, Lynchburg's contest started nearly three hours late.
However, the Hornets persevered and won, 8-6, behind three-hit games from Sean Pokarok and Holden Fielder, seven innings of two-run ball from Zack Potts, and a two-out save from Mason McDowell.
Lynchburg got on the board first. Gavin Collins initiated the scoring with an RBI single. After fouling off five pitches, Jackson Harding followed suit with an RBI single of his own.
Potts kept dealing and finished the night with seven strikeouts. In the sixth, the Hawks tied up the game with a pair of unearned runs.
The Hornets retook the lead in the next frame. The rally started with small ball as Fiedler scored Eric Hiett on a swinging bunt, and Harding scored on a light flare towards the second baseman off the bat of Carrson Atkins. Benton Jones punctuated the inning with a smash into the right-center gap for a two-run double.
Lynchburg's big sixth put Potts in position for the win, and he secured his program-record 12th win on the season. The third-team All-American is undefeated in 16 starts.
After reaching with his third hit of the night, Pokarok unconventionally got around the bases for an insurance run. He reached third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh.
Lyncburg turned to first-team All-American Jack Bachmore in the eighth, but the Hawks knocked him out of the game in the ninth with one out after putting up four runs.
McDowell entered the game and showcased his young, flame-throwing arm. He hit his first batter but blew a pitch past the second Hawk for a strikeout. The freshman gave up hard contact to Ty Hamilton, but Jones made a diving stop at second and completed the play to first, sealing the victory and McDowell's first-career save.
The Hornets (44-7) advanced to the winner's bracket in the four-team, double-elimination format and will face East Texas Baptist on Saturday, June 3 at 8:45 p.m. EST.