Eastfield Walks Off DuPage, Setting up Rematch with Richland

BRACKET

AUBURN, N.Y. – Dallas College Eastfield scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat College of DuPage, 10-9, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series Tuesday at Falcon Park.

Eastfield (49-14) moves on to play Dallas College Richland (42-19) at 2 p.m. CT Wednesday in the elimination semifinal. The winner will play Rowan College South Jersey Gloucester in the national championship round. Weather has postponed play the past two days at the World Series.

Jorge Herrera's sacrifice fly with one out in the ninth brought home Payton Poole for the gamewinning run to extend the Harvester Bees' season.

Eastfield scored four runs in the fifth to overcome a 4-3 hole. Garret Hendricks' fielder's choice RBI tied the game at 4-4. Josh Vaughn scored on a wild pitch, JJ Bush's RBI groundout brough home Hendricks, and River Curs' sacrifice fly put the Bees up 7-4.

After Poole's two-run double in the sixth gave Eastfield a five-run lead, DuPage scored five runs in the eighth to tie it. Bees reliever Ryan Johnston (5-0) retired the side in order in the ninth, and the Harvesters loaded the bases for Herrera to drive in the gamewinning run.

Both teams had seven hits, with only DuPage's Joe Pender and Mark Mennecke recording two hits. Poole was 1-for-3 with two RBI and two walks. John Jackson was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Hendricks and Bush were each 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Aubrey Whitehead singled and drove in a run.

Johnston allowed a run, a hit and a walk, and struck out one in two innings to seal the win.