MCC loses in bottom of the ninth in World Series opener

TYLER, TX -MCC couldn’t hold a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the ninth as Montgomery College of Germantown, MD scored three unearned runs, and took a stunning, 7-6 walk-off victory early Sunday morning at Mike Carter Field in Tyler,TX the first game of the NJCAA Division III World Series for each team.

MCC scored five runs in the in the top of the fifth to erase a 3-1 Gryphons lead. Steve Simon worked the first 6 2/3 innings, throwiing 126 pitches with seven strikeouts. Simon gave up 10 hits and walked two and did not factor in the decision.

Mike Quagliaroli had a two-run double and Peter Burgio had an rbi single. Sam Bender stole five bases for Montgomery but had to leave the game after crashing into the wall in centerfield as he robbed Juan Bisono of extra bases in the top of the eighth.

Dan Nelson got out of an inherited jam in the seventh and one of his own in the eighth, but could not overcome several defensive lapses in the ninth and took the loss.

The start of the game was delayed over two hours because of the length of the previous three games and did not get over until 12:50 am central time, three hours and forty minutes after it began.

MCC (27-18-1)will play an elimination game against Niagara County Community College(34-8) of Sanborn, NY at noon on Sunday at Mike Carter Field. Niagara lost to Brookdale in Saturday’s third game 12-3.