Doane won a pair of pitching duals, 2-1, in both games as the Tigers swept Nebraska Wesleyan in a GPAC baseball doubleheader in the final regular season games of the 2010 season on Saturday afternoon (May 1) in Crete, Neb.
The losses end the Prairie Wolves chances of making the GPAC Postseason Tournament as NWU finishes the year 13-18 overall and 9-14 in the GPAC. Doane clinches their first GPAC Tournament appearance in seven seasons as they end the year 29-16, 13-11 in GPAC play.
Both games were controlled by the two team's starting pitchers. Game one was a classic pitching dual between two of the GPAC's top hurlers. Zane Cascini from NWU battled Dexter Spitsnogle from Doane.
Spitsnogle held NWU to just two total hits in the opener, but did walk five batters and the Tigers committed two errors. Cascini scattered seven hits in his 6 2/3 innings of work with seven strikeouts.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the game tied, Josh Reed doubled to right center field. NWU then intentionally walked Luke Henderson to pitch to freshman Austin Tharp. Tharp delivered the game-winning hit with a line drive to left field that fell just in front of the diving Bryon Janata to give Doane the win.
The Tigers got on the board first in the bottom of the second as Reed doubled in Thomas Frinkman to go up 1-0.
NWU finally tied the game in the sixth inning as Griffin DePriest hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Beau Kelly. The bases remained loaded, but NWU could not add another run.
John Rust and Brady Beckman each had singles for the Prairie Wolves only hits of the day as they left nine runners on base.
Game two was another pitchers dual as Ryan Dolezal and Ryan Otto pitched solid games. Doane scored in the first inning but did not get another run until the fifth as Anthony Hincy had an RBI single.
Nebraska Wesleyan struggled at the plate again managing just six hits off Otto. Their only run was in the third as Zach Munford and Griffin DePriest both singled then Munford scored on a ground out by Bryon Janata.
NWU had a chance to tie in the seventh as Joe Stepanek doubled off the outfield wall, but was then stranded at second base.
Nebraska Wesleyan will lose seven seniors off their 2010 squad that finished 13-18 overall.
