NJCAA D3 World Series:

TYLER, TX – Pitching usually thins out by the third day of a baseball tournament and true to form, both starting pitchers didn’t make it through the first inning when Manchester CC and Montgomery College met for an elimination game Monday afternoon in the NJCAA Division III World Series.

Tyler Kapushinski, who was the winning pitcher in MCC’s victory over Riverland CC Saturday, was able to bail the Cougars out with 6 1/3 innings of relief in a 10-5 victory at a very hot and humid Mike Carter Field Monday afternoon.

The Cougars spotted the Gryphons (Germantown, MD) four runs in the top of the first, but answered back with five runs in the bottom of the inning and never trailed again.

DH Vin Sommo, who has doubled in the first inning of all three series games, had two RBI doubles and Kevin Wallace, who is 6 for 10 with seven RBI over three games, drove in three and scored a run.

Montgomery starter Chris Cross recorded just two outs and left after facing eight batters. He was charged with five runs but did not factor in the decision. Peter Barrett worked five innings in relief and was charged with the loss.

MCC (30-22) ace Kevin Madera made the start on 14 days rest, but gave way to Kapushinski (3-0) with two outs and four runs home in the first. A. J. Rataic recorded the last three outs for his second save of the tournament and third of the year.

“We had to make the call early enough where we didn’t burn Madera for most of the day,” MCC head coach Chris Strahowski said. “He can throw for us again tomorrow. Basically everyone can throw for us again tomorrow except Kap. Everyone else is hot, so we are looking like we are in good shape.”

Kapushinski settled in nicely, retiring the first batter he faced on a pop up to short with the first pitch he threw to end the first inning. Kapushinski scattered eight hits and had just one strikeout, but gave up only one run to keep the Cougars hopes for a national championship alive.

“Throwing three, four pitches for strikes consistently, he is a tough guy to figure out,” Strahowski said of Kapushinski, who doesn’t throw hard and comes at batters with an odd delivery from the left side.

“It’s all about having fun, just do what I have to do” the low key lefty said on his way back to the hotel. “This is a really good team. They hit for us, they talk it up. They always have confidence in you.”

The Cougars will face tournament host Tyler JC on Tuesday at 5pm Eastern in another elimination game. The winner of that game will play the second game of the day for a chance to move to the championship round in the double-elimination tournament.

“Unbelievable,” Strahowski said of his team’s ability to erase the early 4-0 deficit. “You don’t have to start playing for runs. You get yourself back in it and all of a sudden it is a 0-0 game, just eight innings long instead of nine.”

Shortstop A.J. Silberman had an RBI single and hurdled home with MCC’s 10th run, leaping over Montgomery catcher Ben Silverman’s tag on a throw that clearly beat him to the plate. Silberman was also part of two inning ending double plays, including a 4-6-3 turn to end the game, leaving the bases loaded.

Montgomery, (33-23) who sent the Cougars to the loser’s bracket in 2009 with a 7-6, walk-off win in the 2009 series, had 15 hits but did not score after tying the game at 5-5 in the fourth inning. MCC took over the lead for good when Kevin Wodatch scored on Sommo’s second double of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Cougars set a program record with their 30th win.

“We are coming in clutch,” Sommo said. “We were down a couple of runs today and everyone is starting to hit finally.”