SPRINGFIELD, IL- The Warriors defeated the Eagles of Clark State Community College this morning, May 9, 6-1. Caleb Tifft (Auburn Hills, MI/Avondale) earned the win pitching a whole game and only surrendering 1 earned run.

David Woodson (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo) earned game MVP honors, going 2 for 3 at the plate with 2 runs. Luke Strobl (St. Clair Shore, MI/Lakeview) and Ryan Chipka (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne) each had an RBI. Tifft pitched a brilliant 7 innings, giving up 7 hits and 1 earned run. He struck out 4 batters and walked no one.

Brandon Gomes led the Eagles' bats, brining 1 run in and going 2 for 3. Second baseman Marcus Roberts went 1 for 2 with Clark State CC's only run. Andrew Reynolds got the loss on the mound, pitching 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and 6 runs. He struck out 4 batters and walked 3.

Clark State CC opened the scoring up in the top of the third inning, with Gomes hitting a single to center field that brought Roberts home from second. The Warriors answered in the bottom of the third, putting up 3 runs. Eric Ramirez (San Antonio, TX/Catholic Central) reached on a walk, and then Woodson and Alex Hacias (Sterling Heights, MI/Macomb CC) each reached on errors. Woodson and Ramirez came in on the error by third baseman Andrew Johnson.

Rochester College added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single by Strobl that brought in Woodson from third. In the bottom of the sixth, Scott Kunert (Clinton Twp.,MI/Chippewa Valley) scored after Chipka grounded out to second base for an RBI. Up 5-1, Austin Timmerman (Richmond, MI/Richmond) came home after Ramirez reached base via an error by Roberts.

"We hit the ball hard and right at them which allowed us to take advantage of some errors and score runs," said Coach Jordan Ackerman. "We have to get our offensive game together if we want to have a chance against SVU or Penn State- Beaver."

Rochester College will play again this afternoon at 4:30 PM against the winner of Southern Virginia University and Penn State- Beaver. The Warriors advance to the final four of the tournament with this morning's victory.