Hampton, Va. - Top-seeded Illinois Tech pulled it together to escape the upset in their opening round game of the 2015 United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series. It took one extra inning for the Hawks to find the winning run for the 5-4 victory and a spot in the next round of the winner's bracket.
Elliot Chibe started off the game hot on the mound, not allowing a single hit in the first three innings of the game. Austin Boos got the Hawks off to a great start on offense as he hit a double to left field to get things going. He eventually scored after a William Cronin sacrafice bunt and a Michael Malfeo sacrafice fly. The Hawks would get another run in the bottom of the first as Alex Babusci smashed a triple to center field, bringing in pinch runner James Tarala for the 2-0 lead.
The top of the fourth inning brought trouble for the #1 seed. Allowing four runs on three hits and two errors in the inning, the Hawks quickly found themselves behind 4-2. They got one back right away in the bottom of the inning as Boos hit a sacrafice fly to bring Shane Pung in for the score.
After a scoreless fifth, Cory Winiecki took over on the mound for Illinois Tech and got them to the bottom of the sixth seemlessly. Still trailing a run, Pung kicked off the inning with a single. Boos continued to shine at the plate hitting a triple to right field and bringing in pinch runner Matthew Bishop to bring the score back to even.
Neither team could find the winning run in the 7th, forcing an extra inning. Michael Malfeo took over at the pitcher spot for Tech and closed out the game strongly, only giving up one hit in his two innings of pitching. In the bottom of the 8th, the Hawks would close it out as the Bears third baseman couldn't make the play to first allowing Cronin to reach base on the error. Senior Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to show off his wheels as he made his way from second to home on the throw for the game-winning run.
Illinois Tech remains in the winner's bracket and will next play the Apprentice School, hosts of the national tournament this year. The game will be played at 1:30 EST on Thursday May 14th. The winner will advance to the semi-final on Friday.