Box Score | Valley Forge Christian College
Box Score | Baptist Bible College
LANCASTER, PA - It wasn't easy, but the Crimson Eagles prevailed. After downing Valley Forge 7-5 in their opening contest Wednesday afternoon, PBU locked up the NCCAA East Region banner in dramatic fashion, sneaking past Baptist Bible College 7-6.
Scuffling with Valley Forge in the semifinals, the baseball squad slugged out a two run victory despite a 5-4 deficit midway through. Heading into the top of the fifth down a run, the Crimson Eagles put three runs on the board aided by a pair of walks to kick of the stanza.
With Mike Sundholm controlling things from the mound, PBU locked up defensively, holding the Patriots scoreless over the final three innings. The Crimson Eagles knocked around double-digit hits (12) for just the seventh time this season in the winning effort, paced by two hits from five different players.
Facing the fourth-seeded Defenders of Baptist Bible College in the championship bout, PBU found themselves in a deep hole midway through. A four run stanza in the fifth provided the Blue and White a 5-1 cushion heading down stretch.
The Crimson Eagles closed the gap during the bottom of the sixth, plating three runs thanks to three hits and several untimely passed balls at the plate for BBC. The Defenders rebounded by adding a single insurance run during the top of the final frame, boosting their lead to 6-4.
Needing at least two scores to keep the game alive, PBU did one better. Following a Jeremy McAlack single and a Shawn Bramble free pass to first, the ensuing two Crimson Eagle batters were mowed down on strikes.
Down two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Caleb Reimer's patience at the plate resulted in a walk which loaded the bases for Austin Arseneau. With an opportunity to keep the squad's national tournament hopes alive and down to his last strike, the rookie shortstop delivered, flaring a 2-2 pitch to right which scored McAlack and Bramble to tie the game. As the Crimson Eagles celebrated new life, the throw from BBC's first baseman skipped past catcher Jacob Claypoole, allowing Reimer to score the game-winner all the way from first base, touching off a wild celebratory pile-up behind home plate.
The NCCAA II National Championship tournament appearance marks the school's first ever since the tournament became an official National Championship.
McAlack, Sundholm, and Ryan Eshleman each chipped in with two hits during the affair. Bramble closed out the contest on the mound, allowing just two hits and one run during two innings of work in the relief effort.
The Crimson Eagles will switch gears and return to CSAC action their next time out, taking on Immaculata University in Langhorne on Monday in a doubleheader starting at noon.
