SHEBOYGAN,WIS.-A combination of extra innings and yet another strong pitching performance lifted the Wisconsin club baseball team to a 1-0 win over Minnesota State-Moorhead in the championship game of the NCBA Division II District V regional.
With the eight-inning win, the Badgers advance to the NCBA Division II World Series in Paducah, Ky. May 17-21.
Offense, in any form, was hard to come by in this affair. In fact, UW mustered just two hits for the game.
But this is where starting pitcher Adam Rubatt came into the picture. The junior south paw delivered a big-time pitching performance when his team needed him. Rubatt went eight shut-out innings, allowing only six hits. He struck out eight and walked three.
“I really didn’t even pitch that well. I got about 3-1 on every count,” Rubatt said with a chuckle. “The defense fielded well and the other pitcher threw really well, so it was a fun game to play.”
Even with a high pitch count, Rubatt said that fatigue wasn’t much of a factor.
“It feels good,” Rubatt said of his arm. “It was tied up the whole game so the energy was going, the adrenaline was pumping.”
However, Rubatt’s role as hero wasn’t limited to the mound. He led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly, he found himself on third base with two away. He scampered home on a wild pitch and tallied the contest’s only run.
The victory sealed UW’s perfect 3-0 run through the tournament where they allowed just two runs.
The Badgers are no strangers to the national tournament, but this year’s roster touts players with varying levels of experience in the postseason, including Rubatt who is making his first trip to the World Series.
“Last year they went, and I know they didn’t win it all,” Rubatt said. “They’re still hungry and we’re hungry, so we’ll get that done.”
Wisconsin’s opponent in the opening round of the World Series is to be determined.
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