Eagles finish just short of another
National Championship berth
APPLETON, Wis. — Taylor Kohlwey’s hit streak ended the same time his University of Wisconsin-La Crosse baseball team’s season did.
For the second consecutive year, SUNY Cortland – the defending National Champions – ended UW-L’s season. This time, however, it was two wins away from a Division III National Championship, instead of the championship itself.
The Eagles lost 7-2 in the nightcap at Fox Cities stadium. Kohlwey, a Holmen, Wis., native whom many believe will be drafted by a Major League Baseball team soon, went 0-for-4, ending his astronomical hit streak at 51 games.
UW-L (39-10) entered the Division III College World Series ranked fourth in the nation by D3Baseball.com, and lost 8-0 to No. 3-ranked Trinity (Texas) in the first round.
UW-L came back strong Sunday afternoon in an elimination game, beating sixth-ranked Emory 12-3, before the nightcap loss to No. 1 ranked Cortland.
To put Kohlwey’s streak in some sort of perspective, Joe DiMaggio’s MLB record is 56 games back in 1941. No. 2 all-time is Willie Keeler (45 – 1896-1897).
In the minor leagues, DiMaggio is No. 2 all-time (61 – 1933), while Joe Wilhoit has the record (69 – 1919).
In Division III, Damian Costantino has the record at 60 (2001-03). Kohlwey wouldn’t have been able to get that many games, as this was his last year eligible.
Robin Ventural has the Division I streak (58 – 1987) and Kevin Pillar has the DII record (54 – 2010).
Kohlwey, who ended the season with a ridiculous .487 batting average, began his hit streak in last year’s College World Series semifinals against Trinity.