CARY, N.C. -- Just when Henderson State crept back in position to continue its surprising postseason run, Tampa regained the momentum and won.
The Reddies scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to pull within a run of Tampa in their NCAA Division II College World Series semifinal at the USA Baseball National Training Center.
At a glance
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Henderson State 4, Angelo State 1,
Angelo State eliminated
Cal Poly-Pomona 5, Mercyhurst 1,
Mercyhurst eliminated
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Tampa 5, Henderson State 2
Henderson State eliminated
Cal Poly-Pomona 11, Catawba 2
TODAY’S ELIMINATION GAME
Cal Poly-Pomona vs. Catawba, 2 p.m.
But the Spartans regained control with two runs of their own -- without the benefit of a hit -- to pull away for a 5-2 victory that ended the Reddies' season.
"It was good to get those two runs and give ourselves a chance to have another good inning and win the game," said HSU designated hitter Hayden Lessenberry, whose RBI single to left cut the lead to 3-2. "Props to them. They answered right back. They scored a couple of runs and knocked the breath right out of us."
HSU (33-21) had made a habit of jumping out on top during its run to the Central Region championship and in its opening College World Series victory against Angelo State, but Thursday it fell behind for the third consecutive game when Tampa's Andrew Amaro led off the first inning with a double and scored two batters later on a single by Stephen Dezzi.
The Spartans (42-13) added single runs in the third and fourth innings to increase their lead to 3-0 before the Reddies offense finally warmed up.
The spark came from a familiar source.
Leadoff man Hunter Mayall, who hit .548 in the NCAA Tournament (17 of 31), led off the sixth with a single to center. Claude Johnson followed with a double that missed going over the left-center field wall by less than a foot before Jordan Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
"We feed off him," Johnson said of Mayall. "Once we see him get on it sparks the lineup and we try our best to get him home."
Lance Fields knocked in Mayall on a fielder's choice, then Lessenberry's RBI single made it a 3-2 game. But the Reddies couldn't do any more damage and immediately got into trouble when ninth hitter Nick Tindall walked to start the bottom of the inning and went to second when HSU pitcher Ryan Black slipped while trying to field a bunt by Amaro.
Coach Cody Hooten turned to opening game-starter Colton Lorance, but it didn't work out as the senior left-hander walked the only two batters he faced, bringing home one run.
Tampa scored again on a sacrifice fly off Hayden Daniel, the fourth of five Reddies pitchers, to rebuild its three-run lead.
"I don't think it was that we relaxed, by any means," Hooten said. "We just didn't make pitches that inning."
Even though the finish left HSU one victory short of the school record set in 2009,
The Reddies did everything except break their 2009 single-season school record for victories (34).
Henderson arrived in Cary as a feel-good story after being picked to finish ninth in the Great American Conference and finished as one of the final four teams alive in the world series.
"We've tried to change the culture at Henderson State, and it's been a bumpy road," Hooten said. "We have a bunch of veteran guys who put in a ton of work and until this year haven't seen a lot of rewards. To see them accomplish the things they've accomplished is the most rewarding time of my professional career.
"They deserve everything they've gotten. Right now it hurts, but this group will be remembered forever for what it's done."
Sports on 05/29/2015