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GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – The Captains season came to a bitter end today, as they played the second half of an elimination game with Whitworth University (31-15-1), falling 7-2 to the Pirates. The game, which had been postponed from Saturday due to inclement weather, picked up in the bottom of the fifth inning on Sunday, and CNU was unable to stage a comeback.
 
The Captains conclude their season with a 34-10 overall mark after making the program's third NCAA Division III National Championship appearance. The win is the first in school history for Whitworth in the NCAA National Championship.

"It's always tough to lose this way," head coach John Harvell said. "I told the seniors, I just don't want the way it ended to take away from everything we've accomplished. And for this group, that's a lot. It just wasn't our week."
 
Matt Verdillo, who wrapped up the final half inning against Whitworth on Saturday by striking out the side, came back to start the continuation on Sunday. After a leadoff double by Tyler Pfeffer, he got a strikeout and a groundout to short, but followed with a walk and a two-out RBI single as the Pirates added to their lead, 5-2.
 
Verdillo then pitched a scoreless sixth inning, adding another strikeout to finish his two-day pitching performance with 3 innings, 1 earned run allowed and six strikeouts. Ryan Fleischmann closed out the final two innings for CNU, allowing a pair of earned runs and striking out a pair.
 
The game was started Saturday, when Carson Blumenthal pitched five strong innings for the Pirates, striking out four and allowing just three hits. He picked up the win and improves to 6-5 on the season. On Sunday, Whitworth called on lefty Nick Scourey, who allowed just two hits in four innings of work to get the save.
 
The Captains had a big opportunity in the eighth inning spoiled by stellar inning-ending double play. After walking the bases loaded, Scourey got a groundball out to third and then faced designated hitter Chris McDougal. McDougal lofted a fly ball to right that looked deep enough to score the runner from third, but the throw from right fielder Ryan Beecroft nailed Steven Lindemuth at the plate for the third out.  
 
Whitworth added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, after a sacrifice bunt moved runners up to second and third. J.R. Jarrell poked a double just over the first baseman's head down the right field line to score both runners and give the Pirates a 7-2 lead headed into the final inning.

CNU led early in the game, when senior Luke Saunders singled to right center in the first to plate Billy Steel for a 1-0 lead. The Pirates answered in the bottom of the first, scoring twice on CNU starter Bryan Bierlein with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.
 
The Captains evened things up in the third when Matt Shoemaker hit a sac fly to center, scoring Connor Madden. Again, though, the Pirates answered with two runs in the bottom half to re-take the lead, 4-2.
 
The game was called after CNU was retired in the top of the fifth inning, setting up the Sunday continuation.
 
Pfeffer, an All-American for Whitworth, led the way, going 3-5 with two runs and an RBI. J.R. Jarrell was also 3-5 with three RBI, including the big two-RBI double late in the game. Four more Whitworth hitters added multi-hit games.
 
Saunders was 3-4 with an RBI for the Captains, while Steel and McDougal added the only other hits for the Captains. Bierlein was saddled with the loss, finishing his sophomore year with a 3-3 mark. 

The Captains senior class, led by seven starting position players, conclude their career with 123 victories, tied for the best mark in program history. Coach Harvell led the Captains to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and third Finals showing, all in the last 12 seasons.