The IUP Crimson Hawks continue making history, and now they are on their way to the Division II College World Series at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
Jack Benedict has the story of IUP’s Super Regional win over Seton Hill. (7-4)
Coach Steve Kline says he has great confidence in freshman Bryce Devan, who threw three-and-two-thirds shutout innings of one-hit relief, walking none and striking out four, including three straight K’s in the 9th.
With a number of IUP coaches from other sports in attendance this weekend, Kline was appreciative of the support, and he said the success of Paul Tortorella’s football program and Joe Lombardi’s basketball program set a great standard to live up to.
Kline says he’s looking forward to seeing what IUP can do at the World Series.
Bryce Devan was overwhelmed by the moment after the game, but rose to the occasion during it.
Devan says he knew IUP was going to put it together this season after a rough start.
Game One of the World Series is Saturday afternoon at 1:30. IUP will be the fifth seed and their opponent, Point Loma, is seeded fourth.
Point Loma is from San Diego. The Sea Lions won the Western Super Regional, two games to one over Cal State Monterey Bay, taking both games on Saturday after a loss on Friday. They won the clincher, 7-1, giving them their second Western Regional title in three years. They are 45-11-1 overall and are strong on the mound and in the field. They’re led by shortstop Scott Anderson, the West Region Player of the Year, along with four other All-West Region first teamers, relief pitcher James Sashin, second baseman Esai Santos, outfielders Eric Smelko, and starting pitcher Dylan Miller. Sashin and Anderson are NCBWA All-Americans.
The other teams in IUP’s bracket are top overall seed Central Missouri, the Central Regional winner, and number eight Angelo State, which won the South Central Region.
In the other half of the bracket, second seed Tampa plays number 7 University of Indianapolis and number 3 Catawba takes on number 6 Southern New Hampshire.
