Corning Defeats Herkimer; Advances to the National Championship Game

In a match-up of Region III rivals, Corning was able to hold on to a 4-3 win over the Generals from Herkimer and punched their ticket to the National Championship Game. 

Corning found themselves in a Region III contest after being knocked to the loser's bracket final by Rock Valley CC.  Herkimer was sent to the loser's bracket after an opening game loss to the College of DuPage and then fought their way back by defeating Suffolk, Rowan-Gloucester and North Dakota SCS.  This would be the third time the best in Region III would meet this season and the stakes were high with a trip to the Championship being the prize.  #2 Corning and #3 Herkimer would not disappoint as this was the exciting game the fans were hoping for.  Cornnig took a one-run lead in the second-inning as Jayden Hill reached on a hit by pitch and then would cross the plate three batters later on a Herkimer error.  Herkimer would answer back and score 2 runs in the third and add another in the 4th to take a 3-1 lead heading into the 5th-inning.  The Red Barons would score in the 5th as Katelyn Kersch hit a two-out single to plate Lexi Wood bringing the Barons within one run.  In the top of the 6th, Corning would take the lead, scoring two runs.  Hill reached base and was advanced to second base on a sacrafice bunt.  Hill score on a Jodie Burdick RBI single and then a Grace Vondracek hit and Herkimer miscue would would bring J. Burdick home to give Corning the lead.  Jayden Hill and the Corning defense was able to hold Herkimer scoreless the last two innings.  Hill scattered 8 hits over the 7-innings, walked none and struck out 7 but it was a huge infield defensive play that sealed the game for the Red Barons.  In the bottom of the seventh, the Generals had runners on first and second with one out when what appeared to be a basehit up the middle was tracked down by Corning shortstop Vondracek who dove to stop the ball and flipped it to the outstretched second baseman for the force play and out number two of the inning.  Hill was able to envoke a ground ball to Vondracek at short to end the game and send the Red Barons into the National Championship game for the first time since 2004.

Herkimer ended the season 25-6 and third place in the NJCAA Championship.  Corning, now 37-2, will meet six-time defending National Champs, the Rock Valley Golden Eagles, tomorrow at 1pm in the NJCAA D3 National Championship Game.