Greeneville, Tenn. (May 27, 2019) – After a tremendous performance on the mound from Mike Biasiello and Nick Evangelista Saturday, the Roadrunner offense shouldered the load Sunday, putting up double-digit runs for the 25th time this season in a 12-7 win over Oakton to move on to a winner's bracket showdown against Cumberland County College Monday night.

"Being able to do it on both sides of the ball has been big for us," head coach Rob Valli said. "Tonight it was back and forth early but being able to put some distance between ourselves and a good team like Oakton was important in the later innings."

The teams traded blows early in the affair, each squad scoring in three of the first four innings of the night, and halfway through the contest the competitors were separated by the narrowest of margins, the Roadrunners holding on to a 7-6 lead. Worries would quickly melt away for RCGC faithful, though, as they scored five runs in the home half of the ensuing two innings to open up a six-run lead.

The top six in the order for the Runners were the ones to do the majority of the damage against Oakton when the Roadrunners were at the bat, gathering 10 of the 11 hits for the tournament's No. 1 seed, scoring eight runs and also gathering eight RBI. At the top of the order, Lorenzo Morello, who extended his on-base streak to a whopping 34 games, collected a team-best four hits and three RBI, while Alex Gattinelli, Jack Billings, and Dauri Genao also recorded multi-hit games.

"We have a lot of guys that can do the job at the plate," Valli said. "Jack Billings was an absolute competitor tonight, whether it's offensively, defensively, coming in to pitch and striking out the side, he can do any of it."

Indeed, Billings multi-hit game wasn't his only impressive feat of the evening. The freshman showed his defensive prowess by diving to his right to begin a 4-6-3 double play in the second inning, then came in to pitch the final five innings of the game, allowing just one run and shutting down a power-driven Oakton offense that hit three home runs prior to Billings toeing the rubber.

"I just try to do right by my team," Billings said. "Weather it's at the plate, playing second base or on the mound, I don't think about it as having a lot extra to do or as more of a challenge, just try to focus on what I'm doing any given night and who I'm doing it for, and that's my team."

The win improves RCGC to 41-9 on the season and marks their eighth straight victory, the third streak of eight wins or more they have had this year. During the current streak, the Roadrunners are outscoring opponents 83-15. Behind this impressive run of play, Valli, Billings and the rest of the Roadrunners are just two wins away from the program's eighth national championship.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Billings said. "It's everyone's dream to get to a national championship and win, now we have to close it out."

If the Roadrunners are to need just the minimum two wins to take the title, they will need to dispatch of rival Cumberland County College, who defeated Brookhaven earlier in the day 7-0. RCGC is 2-1 against Cumberland County this year, the most recent matchup ending in a 21-1 thrashing in favor of the Roadrunners just 10 days ago.

To follow along live with statistics, video, or both, click here and scroll midway down the page to Game 11.

For more on Roadrunner athletics, follow us on Twitter @RCGCAthletics or visit RCRoadrunners.com.

PREVIEW:

The Roadrunners have advanced in the winners' bracket to face Oakton Community College, who handled Herkimer CC 11-2 in the 4 vs. 5 matchup on Saturay.
Game time is set for 7pm ET from the site of the 2019 NJCAA Division III College World Series, Pioneer Park in Greeneville, Tenn. on the campus of Tusculum University.
Oakton CC (IL) made a name for themselves last season winning the NJCAA DIII title in their first ever World Series appearance. 

Head Coach Rob Valli: "Oakton is a talented team and the reigning national champion. If we want to be the best, we need to beat the best."

Tournament Information:

May 25 - May 29/30, 2019
Pioneer Park | Tusculum University | Greeneville, TN
Address: 60 Shiloh Road, Greeneville, TN 37743
Host: Greene County Partnership Sports Council | 423-638-4111

Sunday, May 26, 2019
Game 5: No. 6 Century (36-11) vs No. 7 Rockingham (33-11), 10:00 a.m.
Live Stats | Video
Game 6: No. 4 Herkimer (35-5-2) vs No. 8 Rhode Island (26-11), 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Video
Game 7: No. 3 Cumberland County (44-5) vs No. 2 Brookhaven (40-25), 4:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Video
Game 8: No. 5 Oakton (37-20) vs No. 1 Rowan Gloucester (40-9), 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Video

Sunday Matchup vs. Oakton CC

VS.

5 seed Oakton Community College
District B, Region 4
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois (20 miles NW of Chicago - 604 miles NW of Greeneville
Founded: 1969
Enrollment: 9,450
Nickname: Owls
Colors: Forest green and black
2019 record: 37-20
National rank: Receiving votes
World Series appearances: 1 (2018)
Championships: 1 (2018)
Record vs. field: 1-0 (1-0 vs. Herkimer)