MT. CARMEL, ILL. – Wabash Valley is the toast of the junior college baseball world today. The Warriors jumped from fifth all the way to No. 1 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll, announced on Monday afternoon.
The surge comes on the heels of Sunday's 7-5 victory over defending national champion and last week's No. 1 team, Chipola, FL.
The victory left veteran coach Rob Fournier with a "good feeling." He said "It's always nice to play in such a good environment and against a quality opponent. I have a ton of respect for Chipola. So, obviously, it was a great win for all of us."
It was a nervous seventh inning as the Warriors hung on for the win. Chipola scored twice to narrow the deficit to 7-5, with the tying run at the plate. Righthanded reliever Michael Payne, the fifth hurler used by Fournier, got the final two outs to earn his third save of the season.
That situation was "just what the doctor ordered," said Fournier. "We needed to see some of our guys compete in that situation. It's fun to get the nerves going and see our guys compete."
Wabash Valley (8-2) got out of the gate early. Freshman Hylan Hall, a Florida native and University of Miami transfer, took a 2-2 pitch from Chipola starter Andrew Moore, and parked it over the fence for a quick 2-0 Warrior lead in the first inning.
The Indians picked up single runs in the second and third to tie the game at 2-2.
The Warriors moved ahead to stay in the fourth, when RBI hits from Mason Sykes and Savier Pinales gave the visitors their cushion back, 4-2.
Both teams scored single runs in the sixth – the Warriors coming on a solo shot from Adam Grob, his second home run of the year.
Then came the seventh, when both teams tallied twice to account for the final.
Lefthander Cameron Tullar, who has already committed to Mississippi State, went 5 2/3 innings with the start, giving three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. Tullar got the win. He's already 3-0 on the season.
Chipola nicked reliever Adisyn Coffey for two runs in the seventh. Jared Hart followed Connor Fenlong out of the pen and surrendered one hit but got the first out. Payne took it from there retiring two batters, one on strikes.
Earlier on Sunday, Wabash lost to Dyersburg, TN, 6-4, its' first loss in six games. According to Fournier that setback made the bounce back win against Chipola all the more impressive.
"Absolutely," Fournier said. "It showed some mental toughness, A good challenge for our guys playing against an incredible program."
The Warriors were scheduled to play at Columbia State, TN on Tuesday, before opening the home season on Saturday with a doubleheader against St. Charles, MO (0-4).
Fournier is quick to remind that the season is young, and his team still has to improve.
"We're not playing great baseball by any means, but we are itching to get better in every category," Fournier said.
Wabash Valley outhit Chipola, 11-4.
This is the second straight season the Warriors have reached the top spot in the NJCAA poll. WVC spent most of last season ranked first, including the final regular-season poll.