Ervin and Pullen pitch TFC to NCCAA Division II title

MASON, Ohio -- All season, Pete Ervin and Russ Pullen helped lead the way for the Toccoa Falls College baseball team -- the duo did so again in the team's most important tournament, helping the Eagles win the NCCAA Division II title this weekend in Mason, Ohio.

In three days Pullen, pitched in three games, throwing 17 1/3 innings, giving up just 11 hits, four earned runs and four walks.l He also struck out 12 batters and earned two wins and a save to be named MVP of the tournament, Pitcher of the Year and an All-American.

Meanwhile, Ervin, in two games, tossed 12 1/3 innings, giving up 15 hits, one earned run and six walks. He also struck out nine batters, threw a shutout against Cincinnati Christian University and won two games. Ervin also played well at the plate during the tournament hitting 2 home runs and driving in eight runs to be named to the All-Tournament team.

The Eagles were selected to the tournament as an at-large team after coming in second in the South Region of the NCCAA Division II tournament. Toccoa went into the national tournament seeded sixth and soon demonstrated how deserving it was to be there.

The Eagles would end up playing 5 games in three days, and in all but one of those games would be the lower seed.

Pullen, who led the nation in wins during the regular season, faced off against Manhattan Christian College in Game 1, dominating in an 11-2 win. The Eagles' offense also starred, scoring runs in every inning, including two home runs and five RBIs from Ervin. Matt Sprewell also went 2-for-4 and added a home run.

Ervin, still feeling the effects of mononucleosis, then went to the mound for Game 2 against Cincinnati Christian University. Yet Ervin showed no ill effects, pitching a no-hitter in a 3-0 win for Toccoa.

Pullen went back to the mound in Game 3 for a battle with Southeastern University -- the four-time defending NCCAA champs riding a 19-game tournament win streak. Yet Pullen held Southeastern to just three earned runs in a 6-4 win for the Eagles. Jody Hyde delivered the game-deciding blow for Toccoa, blasting a two-run homer that also scored Cody Davison and broke a 4-4 tie. Sprewell also had two RBIs.

The Eagles should have had a day off to rest for the championship game, but impending inclement weather for Saturday meant the championship game was played on Friday -- when they took on Southeastern (which defeated Atlanta Christian in the losers bracket).

This time Cayman Mickler took the mound for Toccoa, but Southeastern got its revenge in the double elimination tournament, winning 13-5, despite some strong offensive play from Pullen, who was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and Hyde, who went 3-for-4.

The loss set up a championship showdown between the two squads -- one in which Ervin got the start for Toccoa.

Despite pitching just the day before, Ervin held Southeastern to three runs in five innings.

The Eagles broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth, as Pullen reached on an error and moved to second before Ryan Kirby singled him home with two outs.

Pullen then came on to pitch in the sixth, and shut down Southeastern, as the Eagles pulled out a 5-3 championship win. Matt Denney scored the final insurance run scoring off an RBI single from Sprewell in the seventh inning.

Pullen finished as tournament MVP, Pitcher of the Year and All-American; Ryan Kirby was also named All-American; Matt Sprewell was named All-Tournament; and Pete Ervin was also named All-Tournament. Toccoa coach Justin Pollock was also honored as the NCCAA Division II Coach of the Year.