Baseball MSOE Athletic Communications

MSOE Baseball Advances to Regional Final With Pair of NCAA Tournament Victories

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The MSOE baseball team made history in a multitude of ways on Saturday, winning the program's first ever NCAA tournament games to advance to the regional final, defeating Rhodes College in their first game behind AJ Hamilton's fourth-straight complete game and getting revenge on Webster University in the second game. The Raiders also set a new program record in wins in a season in the process, getting their 28th and 29th victories of the season.

RESULTS
MSOE RAIDERS – 4
Rhodes – 3

MSOE RAIDERS - 4
#13 Webster - 2 

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • vs. Rhodes
    • After a scoreless first, Rhodes (27-18, 9-9 SAA) jumped out ahead with two runs in the second inning before AJ Hamilton kept them hitless for the next four innings, allowing just three baserunners to reach.
    • MSOE (29-16, 18-6 NACC) finally broke through in the seventh as AJ Le and Jordan Skolmar reached on base hits and Kyle Mayberry took one to the body to load the bases. Charlie Claas then stepped into the box and ripped a double into left field to tie the game at two before Jake Franks hit the double the other way to right to score and make it 4-2. 
    • The Lynx tacted on an unearned run in the eighth to cut it to one and despite adding pressure in the bottom of the ninth, Hamilton closed the door drawing two pop up to seal it.
  • vs. Webster
    • Opposed to how yesterday started between the two, things were quiet through the first three innings with the two teams only combining for three hits. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Skolmar extended the inning with a single to right before Mayberry sent one to the left center wall and raced all the way to third for the first run of the game. Joe Stried brought home Mayberry racing out an infield single making it 2-0.
    • Webster (37-9, 17-1 SLIAC) put the pressure on starter Zach Brzezinski getting based loaded with no outs but the Raiders worked out of it as JJ Jackson caught a flyout and then gunned out the runner at home and then forced a groundout to second to come away unscathed. The next inning, the Gorloks got on the board racing out a double play ball to cut the deficit to 2-1.
    • The Raiders added some insurance in the seventh as Stried and Claas started the inning with a pair of singles before Jackson hit an RBI double to score one to make it 3-1. After the Gorloks made a pitching change, they then sailed one past the catcher to let Claas streak home to make it 4-1. The Gorloks added one more to their total in the bottom half of the inning as Brzezinski got three outs in the eighth and Aagam Shah came into the game in the bottom of the ninth with two men on to get the final three outs to end it.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
  • vs. Rhodes
    • AJ Hamilton – 9 Innings, 3 Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Strikeouts
    • Charlie Claas – 2 for 4, 2 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 Double
  • vs. Webster
    • Joe Stried – 2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 Walk
    • Kyle Mayberry – 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 Triple
WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will take on Belhaven University tomorrow in the regional, with first pitch set for 11 a.m. with a potential game two to follow immediately after.