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SAUGET, Ill. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior Alec McNally tossed eight strong innings and the Fightin' Engineers pounded out 13 hits to top Wartburg College 7-2 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at GCS Ballpark.
McNally allowed just four hits with six strikeouts in eight innings of work to improve to 7-0 on the season. Junior Cody Sunderhaus picked up the final three outs to secure the victory.
Offensively, Rose-Hulman scored four runs in the eighth inning to break open a 2-1 contest and earn the 7-2 victory. Junior Zach Trusk led the Rose-Hulman offense with four singles and one run scored.
Junior Drew Schnitz, freshman David Burnside and senior Hazen Hamather pitched in with two hits each. Schnitz scored one run with one RBI, while Hamather contributed a double, single, one run and one RBI to provide offensive depth.
Jacob Thurmann was the only Wartburg player with multiple hits with two singles and one run scored. Parker Bolt tossed seven strong innings and allowed just two runs in a strong pitching duel with McNally.
The score was tied 1-1 through sixth inning, before Rose-Hulman relied on a walk and two singles to take a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Hamather put the Engineers in front with an RBI single.
Rose-Hulman relied on singles by Trusk, Schnitz, Josh Koutnik and Zach Hull to plate four key insurance runs in the eighth inning, helping secure the win.
Rose-Hulman improved to 30-11 on the season and returns to action at 7 p.m. Central Time against the winner of tonight's game between Augustana (Ill.) and Washington (Mo.). The double elimination tournament continues through Saturday.
NCAA Division III Central Regional Tournament Bracket:
Wednesday May 18
Game 1 — Wisconsin-Whitewater 11, Westminster (Mo.) 4
Game 2 — Rose-Hulman 7, Wartburg 2
Game 3 — Washington (Mo.) 8, Augustana (Ill.) 0
Thursday May 19
Game 4 — Westminster (Mo.) vs. Wartburg, Noon CT
Game 5 — Wisconsin-Whitewater vs. Augustana (Ill.), 3:30 p.m. CT
Game 6 — Rose-Hulman vs. Washington U., 7 p.m. CT
If four teams remain after Game 6, the following procedure will be observed:
Friday May 20
Game 7 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Noon CT
Game 8 — Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. CT
Game 9 — Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.
Saturday May 21
Game 10 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, Noon CT
Game 11 — If necessary, same teams as in Game 10, 3:30 p.m. CT
If five teams remain after Game 6, the following procedure will be observed:
Friday May 20
Game 7 — Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, Noon CT
Game 8 — Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 3:30 p.m. CT
Game 9 — Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, 7 p.m. CT
2 Teams Left After Game 9:
Saturday May 21
Game 10 — Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, Noon CT
Game 11 — If necessary, same teams as in Game 10, 3:30 p.m. CT
3 Teams Left After Game 9:
Saturday May 21
Game 10 — Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9, Noon CT
Game 11 — Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 3:30 p.m. CT
