By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – University lost a tough semi-final game at Class 2A Sectional 43 Monday at Park Tudor, as Covenant Christian hit a walkoff single to beat the Trailblazers 3-2.
University scored a run in the top of the first inning when Mark Hamby singled in Jake Hooker. The Warriors tied the game in the bottom of the second, then went ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning.
The Trailblazers tied the game in the seventh inning when Sam Woodward singled home Owen Schellhase. But Covenant got the go-ahead run with one out in the seventh with an RBI double into left field.
University got one hit each from Hamby, Seth Hogg, Weber Morse and Woodward. Grayson Knight pitched five innings, striking out six and allowing only three hits.
Trailblazers coach Chris Estep credited his team, which kept fighting into the seventh inning.
“The team has an enormous amount of character,” said Estep. He also noted that this is a young team, as University returns seven of its eight position players for next year, “so we’re really young,” he said.
“They’ll learn from this and come back and get better next year,” said Estep.
University finished its season 19-8 and was the undefeated champion in the Pioneer Conference.
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 3, UNIVERSITY 2
University AB R H RBI
Jake Hooker 3 1 0 0
Thomas Price 2 0 0 0
Mark Hamby 3 0 1 1
Seth Hogg 3 0 1 0
Owen Schellhase 2 1 0 0
Weber Morse 2 0 1 0
Zane Kampmeier 0 0 0 0
Brady Redman 3 0 0 0
Sam Woodward 3 0 1 1
Jasper Owens 2 0 0 0
Cooper Burnett 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 2 4 2
Score by Innings
University 100 000 1 – 2 4 1
Covenant 010 100 1 – 3 5 2
SAC: Price, Schellhase.
University pitching IP R ER H
Grayson Knight 5.0 2 2 3
Hogg 1.1 1 1 1
Hooker 0.0 0 0 1
Strikeouts: Knight 6. Walks: Knight 4, Hooker 1.