Aurora vs Millsaps

Central Regional - Game 12 - May 20, 2006


Story | Boxscore | Play-by-Play

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. T

he 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.


Story | Boxscore | Play-by-Play

Boxscore - Aurora vs Millsaps

Aurora University 12 (34-12)

Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
John Hopkins cf..........  3  1  1  0   2  0  2  0   0
Zach Starkey 2b..........  4  1  0  0   1  0  1  4   0
Aaron Thor ss............  4  1  1  4   2  0  0  5   3
Jay Zimmerman lf.........  2  2  2  0   1  0  0  0   0
 Peter Oliver lf.........  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Martin Diaz ph..........  1  0  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
 David Warner pr/lf......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Paul Dean dh.............  5  3  2  0   1  0  0  0   2
Ryan Losacco 3b..........  6  2  3  2   0  1  0  6   2
Nick Weber 1b............  4  0  3  1   1  0 16  0   1
Chris Forbes c...........  4  1  3  3   0  0  8  1   0
Josh Damore rf...........  5  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   4
Alex Chapple p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Casey Friend p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Dennis Vietoris p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Matt Miller p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Ryan Fair p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 40 12 17 12   8  1 27 16  12

Millsaps College 11 (37-13)

Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Nick Crawford 2b.........  5  0  0  0   1  3  5  6   0
Jason Hadley lf..........  6  2  3  1   0  2  3  0   2
Justin Carter ss.........  5  2  2  2   0  0  2  5   0
Garner Wetzel rf.........  5  2  2  3   0  1  2  1   2
Hunter Abrams 3b.........  5  1  3  1   0  0  1  4   0
Derrik Boland dh.........  5  0  3  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Joby Gaudet pr..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Luke Morrow 1b...........  5  0  1  1   0  1 11  1   4
John Pacillo cf..........  4  2  2  0   1  0  1  0   0
Russ Boyd c..............  3  2  1  1   1  2  1  0   1
 Nicky Prather ph........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
David Hutzel p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 Drew Maddox p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Brandon Ingram p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 Todd Kindler p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 44 11 17  9   3  9 27 18   9

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Aurora University... 030 701 001 - 12 17  3
Millsaps College.... 002 125 010 - 11 17  1
-------------------------------------------

E - A.Thor; N.Weber; C.Friend; Pacillo. DP - AURORA 1; MAJORS06 1. LOB -
AURORA 12; MAJORS06 9. 2B - P. Dean; R.Losacco; Boland. 3B - Wetzel. HR -
A.Thor; Wetzel. SH - J. Hopkins; Z.Starkey. SF - C.Forbes. SB - Crawford;
Carter; Pacillo 3.

Aurora University      IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Alex Chapple........  4.2 10  5  5  1  3 23 24
Casey Friend........  0.2  3  3  3  0  1  5  5
Dennis Vietoris.....  0.2  2  2  1  0  0  5  5
Matt Miller.........  2.0  2  1  0  1  3  8  9
Ryan Fair...........  1.0  0  0  0  1  2  3  4

Millsaps College       IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
David Hutzel........  2.0  5  3  3  2  0 11 13
Drew Maddox.........  1.1  6  7  7  2  0  8 11
Brandon Ingram......  3.1  4  1  1  2  0 13 16
Todd Kindler........  2.1  2  1  1  2  1  8 11

Win - M.Miller (3-1).  Loss - Kindler (10-3).  Save - R.Fair (12).
BK - R.Fair. PB - Boyd.
Umpires - HP: Jim Ellison  1B: Bob Jenkins  2B: Jamie Still  3B: Rollie Madison
Start: 1:26 p.m   Time: 3:17   Attendance: 176
Hutzel faced 1 batter in the 3rd.

Story | Boxscore | Play-by-Play

Play-by-Play - Aurora vs Millsaps

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Aurora University... 030 701 001 - 12 17  3
Millsaps College.... 002 125 010 - 11 17  1
-------------------------------------------

Aurora University starters: 1/cf J. Hopkins; 28/2b Z.Starkey; 43/ss A.Thor;
6/lf J. Zimmerman; 8/dh P. Dean; 20/3b R.Losacco; 24/1b N.Weber; 14/c C.Forbes;
23/rf J.Damore; 29/p A.Chapple;
Millsaps College starters: 1/2b Crawford; 6/lf Hadley; 15/ss Carter; 13/rf
Wetzel; 11/3b Abrams; 3/dh Boland; 8/1b Morrow; 14/cf Pacillo; 9/c Boyd; 31/p
Hutzel;

Aurora University 1st - J. Hopkins grounded out to ss. Z.Starkey out at
first 1b to p. A.Thor flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Millsaps College 1st - Crawford grounded out to 2b. Hadley struck out
looking. Carter grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Aurora University 2nd - J. Zimmerman singled to left field. P. Dean
walked; J. Zimmerman advanced to second. R.Losacco singled, bunt; P. Dean
advanced to second; J. Zimmerman advanced to third. N.Weber singled to center
field, RBI; R.Losacco advanced to second; P. Dean advanced to third; J.
Zimmerman scored. C.Forbes singled to center field, RBI; N.Weber advanced to
second; R.Losacco advanced to third; P. Dean scored. J.Damore reached on a
fielder's choice, RBI; C.Forbes out at second 3b to 2b; N.Weber advanced to
third; R.Losacco scored. J. Hopkins walked; J.Damore advanced to second.
Z.Starkey flied out to cf. A.Thor reached on a fielder's choice; J. Hopkins out
at second ss to 2b. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

Millsaps College 2nd - Wetzel grounded out to ss. Abrams flied out to
cf. Boland grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Aurora University 3rd - J. Zimmerman singled, advanced to second on an
error by cf. Maddox to p for Hutzel. P. Dean popped up to 3b. R.Losacco singled
to right field; J. Zimmerman advanced to third. N.Weber grounded into double
play 2b to ss to 1b; R.Losacco out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1
LOB.

Millsaps College 3rd - Morrow grounded out to 3b. Pacillo singled to
center field. Pacillo stole second. Boyd walked. Crawford struck out swinging.
Pacillo stole third. Hadley singled to center field, RBI; Boyd advanced to
second; Pacillo scored. Carter singled to right center, RBI; Hadley advanced to
third; Boyd scored. Wetzel grounded out to 3b. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.

Aurora University 4th - C.Forbes singled. J.Damore singled, bunt;
C.Forbes advanced to second. J. Hopkins out at first 3b to 2b, SAC, bunt;
J.Damore advanced to second; C.Forbes advanced to third. Z.Starkey
intentionally walked. A.Thor homered, 4 RBI; Z.Starkey scored; J.Damore scored;
C.Forbes scored. J. Zimmerman walked. P. Dean singled to right field; J.
Zimmerman advanced to third. R.Losacco doubled to center field, 2 RBI; P. Dean
scored; J. Zimmerman scored. Ingram to p for Maddox. N.Weber singled to center
field; R.Losacco advanced to third. C.Forbes flied out to lf, SF, RBI;
R.Losacco scored. N.Weber advanced to second on a passed ball. J.Damore flied
out to rf. 7 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Millsaps College 4th - Abrams singled to left field. Boland singled to
right field; Abrams advanced to second. Morrow singled to right field, RBI;
Boland advanced to second; Abrams scored. Pacillo grounded into double play ss
to 2b to 1b; Morrow out on the play; Boland advanced to third. Boyd struck out
swinging. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Aurora University 5th - J. Hopkins grounded out to 2b. Z.Starkey
grounded out to ss. A.Thor grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.

Millsaps College 5th - Crawford grounded out to ss. Hadley singled to
right field. Carter fouled out to 1b. Wetzel homered to right field, 2 RBI;
Hadley scored. Abrams singled to right field. Boland doubled to left field;
Abrams advanced to third. C.Friend to p for A.Chapple. P. Oliver to lf for J.
Zimmerman. Morrow grounded out to 3b. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Aurora University 6th - P. Oliver flied out to lf. P. Dean doubled down
the rf line. R.Losacco grounded out to 3b. N.Weber singled to right field; P.
Dean advanced to third. C.Forbes singled to shortstop, RBI; N.Weber advanced to
second; P. Dean scored. J.Damore reached on a fielder's choice; C.Forbes out at
second ss to 2b. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Millsaps College 6th - Pacillo singled to center field. Pacillo stole
second. Boyd singled to center field, RBI; Pacillo scored. Crawford struck out
swinging. Boyd advanced to second on an error by p. Hadley singled, advanced to
second; Boyd advanced to third. D.Vietoris to p for C.Friend. Carter reached on
an error by ss, RBI; Hadley scored; Boyd scored. Wetzel tripled to right
center, RBI; Carter scored, unearned. Abrams singled to right field, RBI;
Wetzel scored. Boland flied out to cf. Morrow grounded out to 3b. 5 runs, 5
hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.

Aurora University 7th - J. Hopkins walked. Z.Starkey grounded out to 2b;
J. Hopkins advanced to second. A.Thor intentionally walked. P. Oliver grounded
out to 2b; A.Thor advanced to second; J. Hopkins advanced to third. Kindler to
p for Ingram. P. Dean grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.

Millsaps College 7th - M.Miller to p for D.Vietoris. Pacillo grounded
out to 3b. Boyd struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. Crawford walked.
Crawford stole second. Hadley grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
1 LOB.

Aurora University 8th - R.Losacco struck out looking. N.Weber walked.
C.Forbes reached on a fielder's choice; N.Weber out at second rf to ss.
J.Damore reached on a fielder's choice; C.Forbes out at second 2b unassisted.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Millsaps College 8th - Carter singled to right field. Wetzel struck out
looking. Carter stole second. Abrams grounded out to 3b; Carter advanced to
third. Carter scored on an error by 1b, unearned. Boland singled to right
field. Gaudet pinch ran for Boland. Morrow struck out looking. 1 run, 2
hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Aurora University 9th - J. Hopkins singled to left field. Z.Starkey
grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; J. Hopkins advanced to second. A.Thor
intentionally walked. M. Diaz pinch hit for P. Oliver. M. Diaz singled to left
field, RBI; A.Thor advanced to second; J. Hopkins scored. D.Warner pinch ran
for M. Diaz. P. Dean flied out to lf. R.Losacco grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Millsaps College 9th - D.Warner to lf. R.Fair to p for M.Miller. Pacillo
walked. Prather pinch hit for Boyd. Prather grounded out to 2b; Pacillo
advanced to second. Crawford struck out swinging. Pacillo advanced to third on
a balk. Hadley struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Updated May 2006