Late Five-Run UT-Tyler Rally Eliminates Hendrix from NCAA West Regional

Late Five-Run UT-Tyler Rally Eliminates Hendrix from NCAA West Regional

(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.

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