Mayville State falls in NAIA tournament opener

Mayville State led 2-1 after 5 1/2 innings, but Robert Morris scored the final 4 runs of the game to rally past the Comets 5-2 in opening-round play of the NAIA national tournament in Joliet, Ill.

The Comets, who earned a surprise bid into the field when they won the Dakota Athletic Conference tournament in Jamestown last week, are playing in Group 1, one of 9 in the country. Jamestown College is in Group 5 in Oklahoma City.

Down 1-0, Joe McLain’s 2-run double in the top of the sixth gave the Comets (29-22) at 2-1 lead.

But Chicago-based Robert Morris, making its first national tournament appearance, tied it with a single run in the sixth and then took the lead in the bottom of the seventh.

Sam Hirchert, who spent his first 2 years in the Jimmie baseball program, started and was charged with the loss for the Comets. He went 7 1/3 and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits.

Mayville State, the fifth seed in the 5-team field was held to just 4 hits. They take on St. Francis, Ill. (34-15) at 11 a.m. today in a loser-out game.

NAIA National Baseball Tournament

Group 1 At Joliet, Ill.

First-round game

Robert Morris, Ill, 5, Mayville State 2

Comets 000 002 000 — 2 4 0

Eagles 100 001 12x — 5 9 3

Sam Hirchert, Josh Drews (8) and Spencer Braun. Ryan Rowe and Marty Coyle. W—Rowe (13-3). L—Hirchert (7-5).

Records: Robert Morris 40-17; Mayville State 29-22.

— Dave Selvig

Tags: sports, baseball, naia, dac