UMSL Drops NCAA Opener in Extra Innings

Rivermen Fall 5-4 to Ashland in 12 Innings

Allendale, Mich. – The UMSL baseball team dropped their opening round game at the NCAA Regionals, falling 5-4 to Ashland in 12 innings. UMSL had the early lead, then had to fight back in the last two innings to send it into extra frames before falling in the 12th.

The UMSL offense struggled in the opening innings, as the Rivermen failed to get their first hit until the fifth inning off Ashland starter Ryan Hartzell. UMSL starter Greg Bierling (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University HS) kept the Ashland offense in check as well, holding the Eagles scoreless through six innings.

The Rivermen would get their first hit in the fifth, as Logan Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson) led off with a single up the middle and Jason Barron (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East) followed with a two-run homer to left, his team leading ninth homer of the season, giving UMSL a 2-0 lead. Ashland managed just four hits in the first six innings against Bierling and never had more than one runner on base until they finally broke through in the seventh. The Eagles got an RBI groundout and an RBI single with two outs that tied the game at 2-2.

Ashland would take the lead in the next inning, getting two more runs in the top of the eighth against the UMSL bullpen. The first run of the inning came on a solo homer by Brock Wiskochil and the second run came around to score as UMSL came a step away from an inning ending double play. The Rivermen came back in the bottom half of the inning to cut back into the lead. Doug Wiles (Farmington, Mo./Farmington) led off the eighth with a base hit up the middle and came around to score on an RBI single by Jim Reiter (Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan) to make it a 4-3 game.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Rivermen would tie the game to send it to extra innings. Jason Barron drew a one-out walk and stole second. Colby Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson) would bring Barron home to tie the game at 4-4 on a base hit to left field.

Neither team could score in the tenth or eleventh innings, although Ashland threatened in the 11th, leaving runners on first and third to end the inning. In the top of the 12th inning, the Eagles would bring home the go ahead run after the first two batters were both retired. Josh Gaub was hit by a pitch with two outs and moved to second on a base hit. Eric McDaniel then reached on a throwing error that allowed Gaub to come around and score the game-winning run. The Rivermen could not rally in the bottom half of the inning and fell 5-4.

Greg Bierling took the no decision, going 7.0 innings and giving up two runs on seven hits and struck out seven. Colby Hughes pitched in relief and went 3.2 innings, giving up no runs on no hits and struck out three while Steven McCoy (Potosi, Mo./Potosi) suffered the loss, going one inning and giving up one unearned run on one hit in one inning of work.

With the loss, UMSL falls to 39-14 on the season, and will now have to battle their way back through the loser’s bracket to win the regional. The Rivermen will face Indianapolis on Saturday morning at 10 am, with the loser being eliminated and the winner playing again on Saturday at 4 pm.