ENID, Okla. — Freshman shortstop Matt Curtis, batting in the ninth spot in the order, delivered the biggest hit of his college career on Saturday, lining a two-out, bases-loaded, game-winning single in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Allegany College of Maryland a 4-3 win over Kellogg (Mich.) Community College in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II World Series.
Jerry Lloyd and Taylor Wheaton ripped one-out singles and Cody Blickenstaff was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.
That brought up Curtis, who smacked a solid single to left-center for the game-winner on a full-count pitch by Kellogg reliever Corey Post.
“That was a great at-bat,’’ said Allegany head coach Steve Bazarnic. “That’s just what we needed at the time. It was nice to see him hit it hard and not at somebody.’’
Allegany (48-13) advanced to a winner’s bracket game tonight against Parkland (Ill.) Community College at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
Curtis, who doubled in the third inning, finished with two hits, along with A.J. Czap, Sam Watkins and Lloyd.
Czap had a clutch RBI groundout to tie the game in the 11th inning.
Andy Lytle picked up the win in two innings of relief, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
Lytle came on in the 11th inning after Allegany starter Ryan MacNamara worked 10 strong innings. MacNamara allowed two runs on seven hits with 13 strikeouts.
“(MacNamara) gutted it out,’’ said Bazarnic. “He threw 170 pitches. That was way too many. But he didn’t want to come out. It was a close game all the way. It was a pressure-packed game, and he kept us in the ballgame.’’
Lytle and MacNamara were tough on the lower half of the Kellogg batting order, which combined to go 1-for-24.
Mark Rountree is a sportswriter for the Enid News & Eagle.
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Curtis hit lifts ACM over Kellogg in 12th
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