Published: May 14, 2009 11:29 pm         

Eitel tosses gem to lead Rose baseball at regional

Adrian, Mich. — Rose-Hulman opened the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament with a convincing 12-2 over nationally fourth ranked Heidelberg University on Thursday.

Junior Derek Eitel of Marshall, Ill., tossed an eight-inning gem on the mound to improve to 10-1 on the season and help the sixth-seeded team in the regional upset the No. 1 seed.

“This is what I play for, to play in big games like this. I'd rather play a top team like Heidelberg than a team that is struggling, because it forces me to be more focused,” Eitel said.

Eitel scattered six hits and two walks with six strikeouts to allow just one run to a Heidelberg team that entering the game batting .355 with 110 doubles, 28 triples and 31 home runs this season.

“The key was that I kept everything down today. My breaking ball was really sharp and I could throw my curve and slider for strikes. I was very comfortable out there,” said Eitel.

Sophomore Andrew Markowitz tossed the ninth to finish the victory.

“Derek wasn’t dynamic but did a great job keeping them off-balance with his off-speed pitches,” said Rose-Hulman head coach Jeff Jenkins, who earned his 502nd career victory at the college. “Heidelberg is a dangerous team, and Derek did a great job today.”

Offensively, Rose-Hulman scored six runs in the fourth inning to break open a 1-0 game and secure the victory. The win also marked the 12th victory in the last 13 games for Rose-Hulman.

“We had a couple seeing-eye singles and a couple nice shots in the six-run inning. It helped us relax, and I think it put the game away a little early,” said Jenkins.

Sophomores Chris Stemple and Kreigh Williams paced the Fightin' Engineer offense with three singles each. Williams had two RBIs and scored one run, with Stemple adding one RBI and one run. Junior Michael Kovacs pitched in with two singles, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Junior Troy Eveslage added a key two-run single to the offensive effort and scored once. Junior Keenan Long contributed a single, two runs scored and one RBI.

Other key hitters for Rose-Hulman included Kirk Thompson with a double two runs scored. Senior Andrew Pinkstaff of Vincennes pitched in with a two-run single in the ninth inning.

“It was nice to come out in tournament play with a true team victory. The bottom of the order was outstanding and we hope to carry this momentum into Friday's game,” added Jenkins.

Rose-Hulman captured its second NCAA Division III Tournament victory in school history, after defeating Calvin in last year's Mideast Regional in Terre Haute. Eitel has served as the starting pitcher in each victory.

Rose-Hulman returns to action on Friday at 2 p.m. against the loser of today’s game between Adrian and Marietta. Heidelberg dropped to 36-8 on the season and will head to the elimination bracket. The remainder of the bracket will be set depending on how many teams are left in the tournament after the Engineers game on Friday afternoon.



Rose-Hulman 100 602 003 — 12 14 0

Heidelberg 000 000 011 — 2 8 1

Eitel, Markowitz (9) and Long. Paddock, Thomas (4), Stucky (6), Biggs (7), Young (9) and Decker. W — Eitel, 10-1. L — Paddock, 9-3.