BB: Cyclones go 1-1 in first games at the World Series

The Cyclones trip to the College World Series got off to a delayed start and resulted in playing two games on Sunday due to the Rain in Greeneville, TN.  Their opening round game against Rowan Gloucester was pushed back to Sunday morning.  The Cyclones started out fast, but couldn't hold on against the Roadrunners.  Luis Massa Ortiz led the way at the plate with 4 of the Cyclones 8 hits.  Massa Ortiz gave the Cyclones a 2-0 lead with a Home Run in the 3rd inning.  That lead grew to 4-1 in the 4th inning.  The Roadrunners came back to take the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the 4th and it turned out to be a lead they would not relinquish.  On the mound, Austin Gohl got the start and went 4.1 innings.  He allowed 8 hits and 8 runs.  Cole Wellmann and Keegan Lessard held Rowan Gloucester to 1 run over the final four innings, but the Cyclones could get the bats going as the game went on.

In the nightcap, the Cyclones took on the Northern Essex CC Knights in an elimination game.  Northern Essex struck first in the opening frame as they took advantage of Cyclones Starter inaccuracy loading the bases without a hit.  They scored on a sacrifice fly, but then White regained his accuracy and got the Cyclones out of the inning.  In the bottom of the inning, the Cyclones would take a lead plating 3 runs.  With 2 runners on, Jose Rosario doubled down the left field line scoring Logan Aleshire.  Nathan Pereira followed with a double of his own scoring Larry Rodriguez and Roasrio to take a 3-1 lead.

The Cyclones would tack on 2 more runs in the 4th inning as Jose Rosario scored on a wild pitch.  Massa Ortiz scored later on a Zach Fuecker single and the Cyclones seemed to be cruising.  The Knights had other thoughts in their half of the 4th inning.  The Knights scored 4 times and knocked Brad White from the game.  Hunter Malachek relieved White.  The game entered the 5th inning tied at 5.

The Cyclones took a lead they would not relinquish in the 6th when Ethan Carlson scored on a Massa Ortiz single.  The Cyclones tacked on 2 more in the 7th as Rodriguez singled in a run and Rosario walked with the bases loaded to score another Cyclone.  A Massa Ortiz Home Run and another Rosario RBI helped grow the lead to 12-7.  

Hunter Malachek got the win throwing 5.1 innings allowing 5 hits and 2 runs.  He struck out 9 Knight hitters while walking 5 batters.

The Cyclones endured a long day at the ball park battling the weather; the team arrived for game 1 warmup at 8:00am and the final out finished on Monday morning at 12:30am.  

The Cyclones move on to play Rockingham (NC) in an elimination game scheduled to start at 4pm weather permitting.

Video is available at www.njcaatv.com

Live Stats are available:  http://sctccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2017-18/boxscores/20180528_zpfi.xml

Twitter updates at @sctccbaseball

Tournament Website Updates: http://njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2017-18/div3/national_championship/index