Matt Zoltak and Daniel Tillman combined to shut down Valdosta State and the Moccasins provided enough offense for a 6-3 victory Friday night at the NCAA Division II South Regional in Magnolia, Ark., keeping the Mocs in the winner's bracket.
The Moccasins (40-14) meet Lynn, the only other unbeaten team, Saturday at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to Monday's championship needing just one win to advance to the Division II Championship in Cary, N.C., May 23-30. Lynn advanced to Saturday's game by knocking off top-seeded Southern Arkansas 5-4. In Friday's other games, Tampa eliminated Stillman 21-8 and West Alabama outsted Barry 14-9. West Alabama and Southern Arkansas play at 9 a.m. Saturday, with Tampa and Valdosta State meeting at noon. Both are elimination games.
Zoltak pitched 6.2 innings to earn his second win. He had the Blazers blanked on just one hit through six innings before they reached him for three runs in the seventh. He struck out six and walked three. Tillman finished the game, striking out four,and picked up his 11th save.
The Moccasins made the most of the only inning in which they scored. With one out, Nick Stanley walked and then Zach Maggard belted his 10th home run over the centerfield fence. After Colin Kish was retired for the second out, six straight batters reached base, producing four more runs. Colin Kaline singled in a run, Wade Kirkland had a two-run single and Robbie Shields singled home a run. Shields had a double in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 18 straight games.
