LA ROCHE HANGS ON FOR NCAA MIDEAST REGIONAL WIN OVER TCNJ

La Roche starting pitcher Regis Sauer threw his third complete game of the season and improved to 9-0 as #11 La Roche hung on to defeat #20 TCNJ 4-3 and advance in the winners bracket of the NCAA Mideast Regional. Senior shortstop Colin Williamson registered a hit in the second inning to break the school's career hits record (previously held by assistant coach Sean Lubin).

The Redhawks (playing as the visiting team) gave Sauer an early cushion with three runs in the top of the first. Luis Navedo and Ben Herstine drew back-to-back two-out walks to put runners on first and second base and David Lemley ripped a double into the right field gap for the first run of the game. In the next at bat, Wednesday night's hero Joe Professori came through again with a 2-run single up the middle.

TCNJ's lead-off hitter John Rizzi helped get one back in the bottom of the first when he stole second and scored on fielder's choice.

La Roche extended their lead in the fourth on a Tyler Craig single up the third base line. TCNJ's bats came alive over the next four innings but Sauer was at his best when runners reached base. Sauer left TCNJ runners on third base in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings and then ended the eighth with a 5-4-3 double play.

TCNJ scored two earned runs in the bottom of the ninth but Sauer got the Lions' Pat Roberts to ground out to second preserving the victory.    

Sauer threw his third complete game of the season to improve to 9-0. He allowed just one earned run on eight hits and struck out three.

Lemley went 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and scored. Professori hit in two and scored while Craig reached based three times and scored twice.

Rizzi, the nation's leader in steals, swiped four bags in the losing effort.

La Roche advances in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Mideast Regional and will play the winner of the #2 Randolph-Macon vs. Wooster game on Friday afternoon.