A groundout to shortstop Ryan Hall finalized Webster University’s 5-3 win over Manchester University (Ind.) on Saturday, May 25 in Appleton, Wis. Before any teammates could congratulate sophomore left-handed pitcher Issac Behme on his complete-game victory, he roared out in excitement and pumped his fist in jubilation.
Webster coach Bill Kurich had senior closer Jason Gray ready in the bullpen during the eighth and ninth innings but elected to keep Behme in the game.
“I think Issac had deserved to finish that game,” Kurich said.
Behme said he hates being taken out of a game and was dying to go back onto the mound to pitch each inning.
With one away in the bottom of the ninth and the game-tying run at the plate, Manchester’s Austin Rieke hit the ball to deep left field, farther than anyone had in the game.
JOSH SELLMEYER INTERVIEWS ISAAC BEHME AFTER THE GAME
“My heart skipped a beat,” Behme said. “He put a good swing on it and it went deep, but I guess I just got a bit lucky.”
Junior left fielder Corey Lasky made the catch on the warning track.
Senior center fielder Cody Stevenson said he couldn’t wait to congratulate Behme after the Gorloks’ win.
“You don’t know how many times I want to shake his hand, hug him and kiss him,” Stevenson said. “Kudos to Behme, and as a senior, he saved my butt.”
Behme is now 2-0 lifetime in the College World Series. He earned a win in 2012 for Webster against Kean University (N.J.). He has pitched 14 1/3 innings and has allowed only four earned runs in his two College World Series appearances.
“It’s a blast (pitching in the CWS),” Behme said. “But whenever you’re out there, you think about it just like any other game. Then afterwards, when you look back and soak it all in, it’s an amazing feeling.
“It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders (when the game ended) and I wanted it so bad. I know we are as good as anyone else here.”
Kurich said during the nine innings Behme pitched, Kurich kept looking for a sign to let him know Behme’s day was done. But that sign never showed up.
“He’s a tough kid; he’s just tough as nails,” Kurich said. “That is a huge part of being a great athlete. And from the pitching side of it, he just could throw three pitches for strikes whenever he wanted to.”
—Josh Sellmeyer contributed to this article.
Read more about Webster’s season-saving win over Manchester by clicking HERE.
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