LISLE, Ill. (naccsports.org) --- Benedictine University captured its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Baseball Tournament crown in commanding fashion with a 13-8 victory over Aurora University in a winner-take-all contest Sunday at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine Sports Complex.
The Eagles (32-11), who entered the tournament seeded third, built a 13-0 lead through the seventh-inning stretch and looked to be ready to enforce a run-rule victory, but the second-seeded Spartans (34-11) rallied for five runs in the bottom of the frame to extend the game. Aurora then tacked on three runs in the ninth as it tried to claw its way back into contention before the side was retired to end the contest.
Aurora had forced the if-necessary game with a 4-3 victory in the first game of the day.
With the victory, the Eagles secure the NACC's automatic berth in the 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. The full field and regional assignments will be announced at 11 a.m. CT on a selection show at NCAA.com.
Benedictine will be making its ninth trip to the NCAA Championship and first since 2013. Aurora will be looking for an at-large berth in the championship after appearing in the most recent regional rankings. The Spartans have qualified for the NCAA Championship 25 times, including the last five championships contested (2018-23, 2020 excluded due to COVID).
2024 NACC Baseball All-Tournament Team
Austin Pizer, Benedictine (MVP)
George Betevis, Benedictine
Kevin Bushnell, Benedictine
DeShawnte Carraway, Benedictine
Nico Bermeo, Aurora
Bryce Miller, Aurora
Joey Pettit, Aurora
Sam Sproule, Illinois Tech
Phil Trojanowski, Illinois Tech
Chris Barnes, MSOE
Tyler Gronert, MSOE
Game 11 --- Benedictine 13, Aurora 8
After stranding a runner in the first inning, Benedictine took advantage of two hits and a trio of Aurora free passes to grab a 3-0 lead. Jake Petak singled through the left side to bring in David Rubin, then - after consecutive walks to load the bases - Logan Gregorio brought in Petak and Anthony Lenza with a single though the right side. Kevin Bushnell drew the Eagles' fourth walk in the frame to load the bases, but Brennan Fisher flew out to left to end the inning.
After both sides were retired in order in the fourth, Benedictine exploded for nine runs on seven hits in their half of the fifth inning. Fisher and DeShawnte Carraway led off the frame with back-to-back singles, then came around to score on a two-run single by David Rubin. Petak followed with a two-run homer while Gregorio and Fisher had RBI singles as Benedictine was able to turn its lineup over. In his second at-bat of the inning, Carraway delivered with a three-run round-tripper to give the Eagles a 12-0 lead.
George Betevis made it 13-0 in favor of Benedictine with an RBI single in the seventh inning.
It was better late than never, but still not enough for Aurora, which plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Patton hit a three-run home run that chased Benedictine starter Austin Pizer and Dominick Curcio and Derek Angelo both had RBI singles in the frame. The Spartans threatened for more as they had runners on the corners with just one out but Eagles reliever Nick Shelton was able to get Nik Panico to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Aurora had one last gasp in the bottom of the ninth. Nico Bermeo reached on a one-out double, then scored on a misplay of a Joe Lukancic single. Panico and Logan Riley followed with RBI singles to score Lukancic and Angelo, respectively. Dan Dombrowski then emerged from the Benedictine bullpen to record the final two outs of the game.
Pizer picked up the win, striking out three and allowing four earned runs on six hits and a pair of walks while working into the seventh inning.
Gregorio led Benedictine at the plate, going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Carraway and Petak also posted two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored, while Fisher was 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Bermeo went 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored to pace Aurora at the plate. Angelo, Riley, and Curcio each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
Game 10 --- Aurora 4, Benedictine 3
Aurora scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead and held on as Benedictine added single runs in the fourth and seventh innings to force the winner-take-all final.
Benedictine struck first as Ryan Doubek led off the Benedictine half of the first inning with a single through the left side. He then stole second and moved to third on a ground out before scoring on a Kevin Bushnell sacrifice fly.
Aurora started to string some hits together in the fourth inning. Joe Lukancic ended up on second base after reaching on a throwing error in the infield, the came around to score on a Nik Panico RBI single. Logan Riley doubled in Derek Angelo to put the Spartans ahead, then came around to score with Panico on a Nick Czarnecki two-run single.
The Eagles countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning as Brennan Fisher scored on an RBI groundout by George Betevis. Betevis then made it a 4-3 game with a solo home run in seventh inning, but the tournament hosts could get no closer.
Benedictine pitcher Nick Kosmetatos was able to keep Aurora in check as the Eagles attempted to rally. Aurora advanced a runner to second base in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could not add to their total. Kosmetatos took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a couple of walks while striking out three in a complete-game effort.
Betevis led the Eagles offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. He also made eight putouts defensively.
Joey Pettit earned the complete-game victory for Aurora, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five. He did not issue a walk.
Angelo and Dominick Curcio both finished 2-for-4 for Aurora, while Czarnecki finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs and Panico and Riley both registered a hit and an RBI.