(Story taken from the Hendrix College
website)
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. - Hendrix College sophomore
left-hander Jordan Suydam boasted a four-hit 3-0
shutout heading into the eighth inning of the Warriors second game
of the 2009 NCAA Division III West Regional against University of
Texas at Tyler on Friday at Roy Helser Field. However, the
Patriots rallied for five runs in the eighth to post a 5-3
come-from-behind win, eliminating the Warriors from the tournament.
Box
Score I Tournament
website
The Warriors (22-23 overall) looked as if they would be cruising to
a game-two victory until a controversial call at third base led to
head coach R.J. Thomas' ejection and a wave of momentum in the
Patriots' favor.
Junior SS Matt Gaglio (Kirkwood, Mo./H.S.) fielded
a grounder to his right side, tossed the ball to first year 3B
Kyle Raskin (Simi Valley, Calif./H.S.) and it
looked as if Raskin had made the easy force out at third by
touching the base before throwing across the field to first
base.
However, the third base umpire saw something different. So
instead of having runners at first and second with one out, Suydam
faced a bases loaded and no out situation. The Patriots took
advantage of their momentum and rattled off four hits for five
runs.
UT-Tyler senior right-handed releiver Tommy Rozell buckled down and
retired the side in the eighth and ninth innings for the win,
improving to 6-2 on the season.
Suydam exited the game after two runs scored in the eighth
inning. His line included 7.0 innings, just six hits, four
runs (three earned), two walks and two strikeouts. Suydam
forced nine fly outs and nine ground outs after 31 batters
faced. He was pinned with the tough loss and falls to 3-6 on
the year.
Warriors' senior RHP Wheeler Gnat (Cedar Park,
Texas/H.S.) entered in the eighth and finished out the remainder of
the game. He allowed four hits in 2.0 innings, one run
(earned) and one walk.
Hendrix opened the game with one run in its first at bat.
Sims led off with a walk and advanced to third on a failed pickoff
attempt that ended up getting past the first baseman. Senior
CF Daniel Ward (Tacoma, Wash./Washington H.S.)
sent Sims plateward with his 43rd RBI of the season with a grounder
to second base.
Both teams went scoreless over the next four innings until the
Warriors posted two runs in the sixth frame to make it 3-0.
Ward walked with one out before sophomore 1B Jeff
Forgerson (Simi Valley, Calif./H.S.) clobbered his second
home run of the tournament over the right field fence. The
365 ft. bomb was his 12th of the season and broke his previous
single-season program record.
Ward, Forgerson, junior LF Nathan Hill (Little
Rock, Ark./Catholic H.S.) and Gaglio were the only Warriors to
collect a hit in the affair. Ward's hit marked the 201st of
his career and joins former Hendrix player Billy Schewe (1998-01)
on the SCAC's 200 career hit club.
Senior C David Foley (The Colony, Texas/H.S.) led
the Warriors at the plate by going 3-for-7 with one run scored and
one RBI in the tournament. Sophomore DH Brad
Grinstead (Craig, Colo./Moffat Cty. H.S.), Forgerson and
Ward all tallied two hits over the two games. Forgerson paced
the Warriors with three runs scored, three RBI and a 1.143 slugging
percentage.
It has been an exciting ride for Warrior fans as the baseball team
completed one of the most exciting seasons in Hendrix Athletics
history. The Warriors have a lot to be proud of after their
2009 season and congrats should go out to all, especially Hendrix's
four seniors - Daniel Ward, David
Foley, Matt Giza and Wheeler
Gnat. These four student-athletes fought through
three grueling years and put Hendrix on top of the SCAC this year,
marking a new era in Warrior baseball and setting the tone for
years to come.