Hyland leads Spartans 20-hit attack and drives in eight RBI, Ravens add 15 hits

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 29, 2003) - Top-ranked University of Tampa eliminated No. 21 Franklin Pierce with a commanding 18-9 victory in game 11 of the 2003 NCAA Division II College World Series at Paterson Field this afternoon.

Tampa (45-17) advances to Saturday night's National Championship game where it will face either fellow No. 1-ranked Central Missouri State University (49-7) or Kennesaw State University (40-17). Those two teams play tonight's second game with Kennesaw State needing to defeat the Mules twice to reach the title game.

Franklin Pierce (32-17) sees its record-breaking season come to a close with today's loss. The Ravens, who reached the College World Series after earning their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, broke the program record for wins for the fifth-straight season and claimed the program's first ever Northeast-10 Conference Markey Division title.

"When the season started I thought we had a special kind of team," said fifth-year Head Coach Jayson King. "I knew we were going to be an NCAA Tournament caliber team, but we didn't start dreaming of a World Series berth until the last couple of weeks.

"I'm just so proud of my seniors. The team played hard for them and I'm just happy they were able to experience a World Series."

Tampa sophomore rightfielder Jay Hyland (Beverly, Mass.) had a near record-breaking day at the plate as he finished 4-for-6 with two home runs, three runs scored and eight RBI. The eight RBI was just one shy of the College World Series record set four times. Hyland belted a three-run home run to center in the third and then roped an estimated 450-foot shot that landed atop the 70-foot Kudzu Hill in right-center that drove in two in the seventh. He also registered RBI singles in the first and sixth.

Senior Wally Quigg (Onset, Mass.) batted 4-6 with a double and three RBI, while sophomore Billy Wimberly (Tampa, Fla.) hit 3-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and four RBI. Senior Gene Reynolds (Brandon, Fla.) finished 3-6 with two doubles and three runs scored.

"We ran into a heck of a team today," said King. "When we saw them earlier this week, we knew they could hit and they really did a tremendous job today. They are a great team."

Junior Josh Weis (Tampa, Fla.) picked up the win (8-2) in relief, allowing an earned run on three hits in two innings. Spartans starter Casey McKenzie (Tampa, Fla.) was hit for five earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks over the first 4.2 innings of work.

Sophomore Eric Cavers (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) rounded out a solid World Series by hitting 2-4 with two runs scored. Senior Mike Callahan (Worcester ,Mass./St. Peter Marian) also wrapped up a strong CWS by hitting 2-5 with an RBI and run scored. Callahan finished the week hitting .571 (8-14) with four doubles, four RBI and three runs scored.

"I was just able to clear my head before every at bat and took good swings all week," said Cavers. "It also helped that the strike zone down here was more consistent that what we're used to and it allowed me to just look for my pitches."

Freshman Elliott Shea (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) was 2-4 with a run scored, while junior Dante Blancarte (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) chipped in a double and four RBI.

The Spartans pinned Franklin Pierce junior All-American Matt Weagle (Charlton, Mass./Shephard Hill) with his second defeat this season as well as over his last 15 decisions. Weagle was hit for 11 runs, nine earned, on 12 hits (all season-highs) and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings.

Tampa jumped ahead in the first with a pair of unearned runs. Hyland stroked a two-run single through the right side after the Franklin Pierce centerfielder misplayed a routine fly ball.

Hyland struck again to lead a four-run third that put Tampa up 6-0 with a three-run homer to center. The homer came after Wimberly belted an RBI double to right center.

Franklin Pierce wouldn't go away without a fight, cutting the lead in half with three in the bottom of the third. Blancarte, who had broken an RBI slump yesterday, cleared the bases with a bases-loaded double.

After Tampa pushed one across in the fourth, the Ravens closed to within two with a pair of runs in the fifth. Senior Josh Coughlin (Keene, N.H./Keene) drove in Cavers (walk) with a sacrifice fly to right, before Callahan registered an RBI single up the middle to score senior Paul McAuliffe (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro), who singled through the right side.

The Spartans answered the rally with four runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to break open a 16-7 cushion and were never challenged again. Hyland delivered the big blow with his monstrous homer to cap the scoring in the seventh.

The two teams combined for 35 hits, including eight extra-base hits, in the game with Tampa totaling 20 and Franklin Pierce adding 15 of its own.

"I'm proud of our team," said King. "We had a great season, obviously it wasn't the way we wanted it to end, but to make it to the World Series our first time in the NCAA Tournament and winning two games down here is a tremendous accomplishment."

BOX SCORE

Batteries:
FP - Weagle, Basile (7), Tenney (8), Borowsk (9) and Cavers
TAM - McKenzie, Benner (5), Weis (6), Boza (8), Fisk (9) and Duff

WP: Weis (8-2)
LP: Weagle (9-2)

HR: TAM: Jay Hyland 2 (9)