Richland Rallies to Put Away DuPage in World Series Opener
AUBURN, N.Y. – Dallas College Richland's baseball team pulled away from College of DuPage for a 15-7 seven-inning, run-rule victory in the opening round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series Saturday at Falcoln Park.
The Thunderducks (41-18) broke a 7-7 tie in the fourth inning when they exploded for eight runs to seize control of a see-saw affair. The win sets up a rematch against Dallas College Eastfield (47-13) in Sunday's 3 p.m. CT second round. Richland beat Eastfield twice to win the NJCAA South Central District Championship last weekend.
Richland led 7-3 after three innings before DuPage (31-17) scored four runs to tie it. Robby Lopez's two-run single to right gave the Thunderducks an 11-7 lead. Jouseph Gelpi followed with a two-run single to center to make it a six-run game. Nick Hockemeyer's sacrifice fly and Teagan Peeple's bases-loaded walk made it 15-7.
Devin Jennings (4-3) picked up the win in relief, allowing a hit and a walk in 2.1 innings. Lucas Shipman closed out the Chaparrals with a perfect seventh inning, needing only five pitches to end the game in the seventh.
Gelpi was 4-for-5 with a double, two runs batted in and a stolen base. Hockemeyer went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Lopez singled twice, and drove in four runs. Trey Smith drove in a pair, while doubling in three at-bats and drawing a walk. Eimir Perez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Trace Chamblee was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
DuPage's Joe Pender, Jack Wade and Jake Pauley each had two hits. Pender drove in a run, and Pauley had two RBI.
Richland outhit DuPage, 16-8.