2006 NCAA Division III Baseball Central Regional
2006 Tournament Statistics
Webster
Aurora Defeats Millsaps, 12-11, to Advance to College World Series for Sixth Time
St. Louis, Mo., May 20, 2006 -Fourth-seeded Aurora University upended second-seeded Millsaps College, 12-11, to win the NCAA Division III Central Region Championship on Saturday at Kelly Field in St. Louis, Mo. The Spartans, who improved to 34-12 after winning their fourth-consecutive Regional game, advanced to the College World Series for the sixth time in program history.
Freshman pinch hitter Martin Diaz lined the game-winning single to left field in the top of the ninth inning, driving in senior John Hopkins for the 12-11 lead.
Junior Ryan Fair picked up his fourth-straight save of the Regional. With a Millsaps runner on third base and two outs, Fair struck out junior Jason Hadley to end the game.
AU took a commanding 10-2 lead with a seven-run fourth inning, but the lead barely held up. Millsaps rallied to score nine of the next 10 runs to tie the game at 11-11 when sophomore Hunter Abrams grounded out to third base. Millsaps junior Justin Carter advanced to third on the groundout after the throw to first was made the AU third baseman. However, the Spartans' first baseman challenged Carter at third base with a throw that sailed wide, allowing Carter to score safely on the error.
Junior Matt Miller picked up his second win of the Regional in relief for Aurora, giving up just two hits and one unearned run.
Senior Aaron Thor helped spark the seven-run fourth with a grand slam over the left field fence. AU senior Chris Forbes also went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Millsaps senior Garner Wetzel went 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, including a two-run homer for his fourth round-tripper of the Regional. Hadley, Abrams and sophomore Derrik Boland also registered three hits apiece for the Majors
The teams combined to use nine pitchers in the final game, as both ballclubs notched 17 hits
The College World Series is set for Friday-Tuesday, May 26-30, at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis.
2006 Central Regional All-Tournament Team
Catcher - Sergio Simental, Carthage; Third Base - Ryan Losacco, Aurora; Hunter Abrams, Millsaps; Warren Even, Carthage; Shortstop - Aaron Thor, Aurora; Ryan Corning, Washington (Mo); Outfield - John Hopkins, Aurora; Garner Wetzel, Millsaps; Nick Weimer, Mount St. Joseph; Utility - Josh Reinhart, Mount St. Joseph; Pitcher - Ryan Fair, Aurora.
2006 Results