Top-ranked Cortland wins it in ninth
APPLETON, Wis. – It was a tough ending to an incredible run by the UW-La Crosse baseball team.
The Eagles finished the Division III College World Series runners-up, after losing to No- 1-ranked SUNY Cortland 6-2 on Wednesday at Fox Cities Stadium in the best-of-three series sweep.
It was the best performance by the Eagles in school history. But it was disappointing in the fact that the Eagles were up 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, when Jameson Sadowske, the team’s closer for all intense and purposes, gave up five runs – one earned. The Eagles (36-16) committed two errors in the inning, as well.
Sadowske, one of the many hugely responsible for getting 22nd-ranked UW-L to and through this postseason run, came into the matchup with a .63 earned-run average and a 5-0 record. He had given up three earned runs all season. On Saturday, Sadowske came in in relief in the second round of the College World Series, and went a career-high 6 innings in a 12-inning affair that the Eagles won 3-2 in walk-off fashion.
Wednesday, he was heading into his fourth inning of work, having given up just one hit in the first 2.2 innings, when Cortland (45-4), who didn’t lose all series, opened things up.
The Red Dragons led off with a single. An error at third on a sacrifice bunt on the next at-bat put runners at first and second. And after a walk, Cortland took the lead on a two-run single.
Another sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third. Sadowske got the next batter swinging, before another error, on a hit to shortstop, scored another run.
Two batters later, with two outs, Cortland added some insurance with a two-run single to make the UW-L’s comeback in the bottom of the ninth a tough feat.
And, in the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles opened with a walk, struck out, and ended the game hitting into a double-play.
The Eagles fell behind 1-0 in the top of the sixth, but answered right back in the bottom half of the inning.
Taylor Kohlwey was hit by a pitch to lead things off. Ben Morgan came up with one out and moved Kohlwey to third with a single. Bryce Barsness and Shane Adler followed with back-to-back RBI singles to take the lead.
UW-L finished with eight hits to Cortland’s 11. Joe Miller started the game for La Crosse, went 5.1 innings, giving up six hits, one run, no walks, while striking out two. Red Dragons’ starter Seth Lamando went 7 innings, gave up eight hits, two walks and two earned runs. He struck out nine. The two relievers to follow didn’t give up a hit.