Box ScoreMARIETTA — As each inning was put in the books it became clear to everyone that neither John Carroll nor Thomas More had any interest in ending their time in the 2014 NCAA Mideast Regional.
Leads of any size didn't last long and the two battled it out for 12 innings before Thomas More finally pulled out the 9-8 victory at Marietta College's Don Schaly Stadium Friday afternoon.
"We didn't quit and that's kind of our MO going back to last week in the tournament when we had to come back from every game," said Thomas More coach Jeff Hetzer. "It's not how you draw it up as a coach but today it worked."
Draw it up? Hetzer likely would have never guessed who would be the Saints' hero. Freshman Thomas Baumann was supposed to be home in Union, Ky., but instead he delivered the biggest hit of his career in the bottom of the 12th.
"He wasn't on our original 25-man roster," Hetzer said.
Baumann was added after sophomore Frank Rosenaker was injured in a car accident.
After entering the game as a pinch runner, Hetzer stuck with the freshman and put him into left field. The move paid off.
With two outs in the 12th inning, Baumann ripped a single to center that scored Casey Metzger and put an end to the three-hour and 36-minute game.
"I wasn't thinking at all. I didn't want to let it all get to me. We're on a big stage in this game and I couldn't let the nerves get to me," Baumann said. "A lot of my role has been pinch-running. For him to keep me in was a big honor. It was a great opportunity and I tried to take the opportunity for what it was."
Baumann came up big earlier in the 12th inning as well.
John Carroll (24-17) threatened in the top of the 12th, but Baumann threw out Mark Huddle at the plate on Jacob Shriner's single to left, which ended the inning.
Baumann also singled home a run in the 11th to tie the game at 8-8 after John Carroll had scored in the top of the inning.
"We talked about it before we even left that if we're going to win this thing there's going to be a lot of games and everybody is going to have an opportunity whether it's in the field, an at-bat or pitching," Hetzer said. "He stepped up in the situation and came through clutch for us."
Thomas More (24-18) took an early 3-0 lead off John Carroll starter Andrew Doring. Donovan Pogue went 3-for-3 with a run before being pulled for Baumann. Travis Miller added three hits and one RBI, while Ben Kenning was 2-for-5 with one RBI.
Sophomore Chris Auer (4-0) allowed five hits and one run over the final three innings to pick up the win. Starter Vic Newberry allowed seven hits and four runs over five innings.
John Carroll matched the Saints with 15 hits, including a 3-for-6, three-RBI performance by Jimmy Spagna. Bobby Sabatino had two hits, including a three-run double in the fifth inning that gave the Blue Streaks a 4-3 lead at the time. Mitchell Herringshaw went 2-for-5.
It was the second consecutive game the Blue Streaks lost 9-8. On Wednesday, John Carroll rallied for four runs in the ninth inning but came up short against Salisbury. JCU coach Marc Thibeault tried his best to put a positive spin on the tough losses.
"They left it on the field. They played as hard as they could. I don't know if just the last six games … if the guys were really drained," he said referring to the Blue Streaks needing to win their final two games of the regular season and then playing four more in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. "There's disappointment when you don't win, but I'm not disappointed in any one of our guys that left it out on the field."
