TYLER, TEXAS -- In the 95-degree Texas heat, the Ridgewater Warrior bats wilted on Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to Gloucester Community College in the elimination bracket of the NJCAA Division III World Series.
There was no shortage of hits -- the Warriors had 13 -- but clutch hits were lacking and the team had just one extra-base hit.
The Warriors finished 2-2 on the national stage and 36-7-1 overall.
"We just left too many on base, but our guys played well down here," said coach Dwight Kotila. "We're happy to finish in the top four. It's disappointing not to go further but there's nothing to hang our heads about. This is a good finish."
Ridgewater stranded 13 runners in the game.
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It was the last Ridgewater game for 12 sophomores and Kotila, who has resigned after 10 seasons, citing the need for full-time employment as opposed to part-time here.
This was the sixth Ridgewater College team he's taken to the World Series. It was the second-best finish. The 2005 team was national runner-up.
The Roadrunners from Sewell, N.J., went up 2-0 facing Jason Dorn, who walked three and hit a batter in the first inning.
Kotila brought in one of his aces, Brad Haag, to start the second. Haag was the losing pitcher against Richland (Texas) on Sunday, but had a low pitch count and went the rest of the way allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned).
Ridgewater got two back in the second on three hits and had a runner pegged out at the plate. The Warriors got only one more run off Craig Carroll, who somehow worked his way through 13 hits, four walks and a hit batter.
In the sixth, Scott Greening singled and Keaton Gustin was hit by a pitch with the top of the order up for Ridgewater. Carroll then got Tyler Horning, Brad Olson and Matt Bauer swinging.
Gloucester 6, Ridgewater 3
Gloucester CC.210 000 111 -- 6 9 3
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Ridgewater.......020 000 001 -- 3 13 1
HITTING - Gloucester: Chris Lingham 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 sb; Joe Perez 2-for-4, rbi; Bryan Miller 3-for-4, John Plasha 1-for-4, rbi; Adam Soley 1-for-3, rbi; Jeremy Clark 1-for-4, 2 runs ... Ridgewater: Tyler Horning 2-for-4, Brad Olson 2-for-5, Matt Bauer, 0-for-5, Tyler Steen 2-for-4, 2b, run; Mike Riewer 1-for-4, Nate Alfson 2-for-4, rbi; Jeff Brooks 1-for-5, run; Scott Greening 2-for-4, Keaton Gustin 1-for-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Gloucester: Craig Carroll (W) 9-13-3-0-4-6 ... Ridgewater: Jason Dorn (L) 1-1-2-2-3-0, Brad Haag 8-8-4-3-3-4
