With the opening weekend of the 2015 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals in the books, we move on to crunch time in Cary, as the elimination games begin. Below is the schedule for the next two days of action, as Monday (5/25) and Tuesday (5/26) each feature both a winner's bracket game and an elimination game, as flags will start to be taken down from the USA Baseball National Training Complex rotunda.
Official 2015 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals Bracket
2015 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals Tournament Page
Monday, May 25th, 3:00 PM Eastern (Elimination Game)
Wilmington (37-14)
vs
Angelo State (41-17)
NCAA Live Stats ||| NCAA Live Video
The Rams will be trying to rebound from a shutout at the hands of Henderson State, and I assume, will put ace and one of the best pitchers in the country, Steve Naemark (10-1, 1.46 ERA, 133:22 K:BB in 117 IP), on the mound. If he still won't be available, they have another fine option in Bryce Zak (5-6, 2.67 ERA, 85 K in 70.2 IP). On that same note, Wilmington should have an awfully fine pitcher of their own to send out to the rubber in Frank Samluk (6-0, 2.05 ERA, 68:19 K:BB in 61.1 IP).
Monday, May 25th, 7:00 PM Eastern (Winner's Bracket)
Catawba (45-13)
vs
Henderson State (32-19)
NCAA Live Stats ||| NCAA Live Video
Catawba got a huge performance from Craig Brooks at the plate and on the mound, as Brooks was 3-for-4 on offense and picked up the save on the rubber. If the regional pitcher of the year takes the mound in this game, he'll be 9-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 96 innings of work. However, the Indians have another option in Connor Johnson (5-1, 4.04 ERA, 60 K in 62.1 IP), who could be on the docket since this isn't an elimination game. For the Cinderella story Reddies, they will hope to carry over the stellar pitching and defense that shut out ASU in the opener, and they will most likely ask on Chris Hunt (6-3, 2.84 ERA, 42 K in 82.1 IP) or Cody Jones (6-3, 4.99 ERA, 60 K in 66.2 IP) to take the ball.
Tuesday, May 26th, 3:00 PM Eastern (Elimination Game)
Truman State (35-21)
vs
Cal Poly Pomona (43-16)
NCAA Live Stats ||| NCAA Live Video
Truman had a solid showing in their national finals debut, fighting valiantly against one of the best teams in Cary. They came up short, but they showed that they aren't in the deep end. They will face a tough task here in facing what I am guessing will be one of the top pitchers in the country in Ryan Olson (11-0, 1.67 ERA, 78:21 K:BB in 80.2 IP, .176 BAA) since it is an elimination game. If they go in another direction, I am guessing it will be Chris Powell (7-2, 2.44 ERA, 73 K in 84.2 IP, .199 BAA). For the Bulldogs, they have a couple solid options of their own to send to the mound in Kent Frantz (9-2, 2.61 ERA, 7 CG, 33:9 K:BB in 76 IP) or Mark Roberts (5-2, 3.76 ERA, 79 IP).
Tuesday, May 26th, 7:00 PM Eastern (Winner's Bracket)
Tampa (40-13)
vs
Mercyhurst (40-9)
NCAA Live Stats ||| NCAA Live Video
It was Tampa's offense taking the spotlight against a spectacular Pomona pitching staff on opening weekend, and they will probably need that again against yet another stellar pitching staff in Mercyhurst. After Calkins started the opener, Tampa has a couple options in David Heintz (4-2, 3.58 ERA, 34 K in 50.1 IP), Chase Sparkman (9-2, 4.11 ERA, 63:11 K:BB in 85.1 IP) or Brad Hencke (7-1, 4.98 ERA, 47 K in 68.2 IP). Being a winner's bracket game, the Lakers have a few options to roll out to the mound as well. Jon Klein (8-2, 2.25 ERA, 82:17 K:BB in 64 IP, .202 BAA) is the top option left, but they could also roll with Cam Knott (5-1, 2.70 ERA, 54:13 K:BB in 43.1 IP) or Matt Jaskolka (7-1, 3.47 ERA, 51:8 K:BB in 46.2 IP).
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