St. Cloud, Mn--
Riverland Community College battled back from a 2-0 deficit against Century College in the championship round of the NJCAA Region XIII baseball tournament, but didn't get the chance to respond to the counter-punch that ended their run in the competition.
Down two runs in the top of the eighth after Century broke open the scoreless pitchers duel by scoring twice in their half of the seventh, Ian Lopez and Alex Ciola answered the bell by driving in one run each for the Blue Devils.
With the momentum of the comeback on their side, RCC was able to hold Century off the scoreboard in the bottom of the 8th; unfortunately, the Ducks returned the favor in the top of the 9th, as Riverland failed to score.
With the game in the balance in the bottom of the 9th, Century center-fielder Keegan Macemon cracked a game-ending - and Region-ending - walk-off home run.
Riverland pitchers Jake Erickson and Marion Brunken shared the duties on the mound for RCC, with Erickson pitching 4.2 innings and Brunken throwing 3.2. Luis Rodriquez led Riverland offensively, going 3-for-5 on the day and scoring a run.
Riverland and fellow MCAC squad St. Cloud Technical and Community College will now await their fate as the NJCAA decides the at-large bids for the 2017 NJCAA Division III World Series.
Story courtesy of MCAC Sports