TYLER, Texas -- The Ducks made the baseballs fly on Sunday against Ridgewater College pitching.Richland College tapped three Warriors hurlers for 15 hits in a 14-3 victory in six innings.
The Warriors (35-6-1) play in the NJCAA III elimination bracket at 4 p.m. today against Suffolk County CC (32-9) of Grant, N.Y.
Ridgewater started their fourth consecutive World Series last Saturday night by tripping Hudson Valley (N.Y.) 10-5.
But the Dallas-based Ducks come from another flyway. Richland (61-21) has won three national titles all ready this century and have to be favored in their home state, although Joliet, Ill. also 2-0 so far, looks very strong.
"It looks like the two best teams are in the left in the winner's bracket," said Ridgewater coach Dwight Kotila. "Give Richland credit. They hit everything we threw at them. We're not disappointed. We lost to a good team. We hope to make a run yet."
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On Sunday, the Minnesotans got off to a good start, leading 3-1 after three innings.
But the Ducks took off over the next three innings, driving Brad Haag from the hill with one out in the fourth inning.
Richland scored four times in the fourth and fifth innings andf then added five more tallies in the sixth inning.
Josh Christenson did a lot of the damage himself for Richland, going 3-for-3, with a pair of doubles, scored three times and drove in five runs. K.C. Pfister drove in four runs.
Tyler Steen went 3-for-3 for Ridgewater.
Sunday's Game Richland, Texas 14, Ridgewater College 3
Richland 010 445 -- 14 15 1
Ridgewater 201 000 -- 3 6 2
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HITTING - Richland: John Masch 4-for-4, 4 runs, 2b; Travis Latz 1-for-2, 3 runs; Sean Ablett 1-for-3, 2 runs, 2b, 3 rbi; Josh Christenson 3-for-3, 2 2b's, 3 runs, 5 rbi; K.C. Pfister 3-for-3, 4 rbi; Jeff Sakowski 2-for-4, 2 rbi ... Ridgewater: Tyler Horning 0-for-3; Brad Olson 0-for-2, run; Matt Bauer 1-for-2, run; Tyler Steen 3-for-3, 2b, rbi; Mike Riewer 1-for-3, 2b; run; Nate Alfson 0-for-3; Jeff Brooks 0-for-2; Scott Greening 0-for-3; Keaton Gustin 1-for-3; Brad Haag 0-for-1
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Richland: Phil Clinard (W) 5-6-3-2-1-5, Wes Pool 1-0-0-0-0-2 ... Ridgewater: Brad Haag (L) 3Zc-5-5-2-1-3, Chad Willenbring 1Xc-5-4-4-1-1, Gary Albright 1-5-5-5-2-0
