Spring Hill captures first NCAA postseason win

TAMPA, Fla. – The Spring Hill College baseball team captured its first-ever NCAA postseason win after it defeated Valdsota State, 5-4, at the UT Baseball Field on Friday.

The 8-seed Badgers (33-22, 25-7 SIAC) defeated the 5-seed Blazers (33-20, 18-12 GSC) while being led by Norris McClure, who wend 4-for-4 with two runs and a double. Kai St. Germaine (8-4) led SHC to its first NCAA tournament victory on the mound while only giving up two hits across three innings pitched.

VSU struck first with a home run in the top of the third and stacked two more runs in the fourth to take an early 3-0 lead. Spring Hill answered when Nick Hunter batted a run in in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-1. Heads-up base running by Ethan Valdez, who scored on a wild pitch, in the bottom of the fifth brought the momentum back for the Badgers, who were then down 3-2. Seth Williams tied the game with a RBI single to right center, before Luke Sweeney pushed SHC ahead 4-3 with a RBI double down the left field line. Valdosta State tied the game up again in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly, but Spring Hill answered with its own go-ahead sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead, 5-4.

Game Details
Date: May 19
Time: 1 p.m. (EST)
Venue (Location): UT Baseball Field (Tampa, Fla.)

Results
(#8) Spring Hill 5, (#5) Valdosta State 4
Records: Spring Hill (33-22, 25-7 SIAC), Valdosta State (33-20, 18-12 GSC)
 
Up Next
The Badgers will continue their NCAA postseason run against the loser of (#1) Tampa versus (#4) Rollins on Saturday at 1 p.m (EST)
 
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