DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Keuka College Baseball team secured a walk-off victory in game two to split a doubleheader in Florida against St. Norbert College.
Keuka College (2-4) took the nightcap on a walk-off fielders choice to win it 4-3. St. Norbert took the opener 7-1 on Saturday.
St. Norbert College 7 vs. Keuka College 1 – Game 1
Derek Novicki doubled for the Wolves in the first inning, but Keuka would not be able to capitalize. St. Norbert used a big second inning to take a 4-0 lead over the Wolves.
Trailing 5-0, the Wolves got a run in the fourth inning as
Zach Elinich led off with a double. He made his way to third and scored. However, it came across on a double play as the Green Knights traded a run for two outs.
St. Norbert had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the inning, but starting pitcher
Wyatt Ernst worked out of trouble, picking off a runner to end the inning.
The Green Knights added a run in the fifth and sixth to take the opening game of the doubleheader 7-1.
Keuka College 4 vs. St. Norbert College 3 – Game 2
St. Norbert looked to carry the momentum as they scored a run in the top of the first inning.
Ryan Schur, Jr. entered in relief of the inning and got a flyout to strand the bases loaded.
The rain began to fall in the fourth and it sparked a rally in the Wolves.
Zach Elinich led off the fourth with a double to right. He then moved to third as
Ian Ruhmel beat out a bunt single.
Mike Dutch followed with a single to score Elinich and tie the game.
Jackson Loper then looked to but Ruhmel and Dutch over. The St. Norbert pitcher threw the ball away allowing both to score, giving Keuka a 3-1 lead.
The advantage held until the sixth inning. The Green Knights scored a pair to tie the game at 3-3, but the Wolves held them there. The game would go to the bottom of the seventh tied.
Nate Hill led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and moved to second on a single by
Derek Novicki. After a failed bunt attempt got Hill out at third, the Wolves loaded the bases as
Zach Elinich singled to center.
Ian Ruhmel came to the plate for the Green and Gold. He would hit a chopper to short. St. Norbert attempted a double play, but Ruhmel's speed beat it out at first, allowing pinch runner
Matt Govendo to score and give the Wolves a 4-3 walk-off victory.
KC Notes:
- The win was Keuka's first in limited games against St. Norbert. The Green Knights now lead the all-time series 3-1
- Keuka College had six hits in game one, three of which were doubles. Derek Novicki, Zach Elinich, and Ian Ruhmel all recorded them
- The doubles continued in game two as Zach Elinich repeated and Grady Kessler hit one for his first career hit
- Elinich and Mike Dutch each had a pair of hits in game two
- Ryan Schur, Jr. ended up throwing five innings of relief for the Wolves in game two. He allowed just five hits and a pair of runs while striking out two
- Liam Eshelman got the Wolves out of the sixth and pitched a scoreless seventh for his first win for the Green and Gold
Up Next for Keuka College: The action in Florida continues for Keuka College on Sunday as the Wolves play another doubleheader. Keuka College will play Framingham State University out of Massachusetts at 3 p.m. at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida.
