OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME – Greg Frederick scored the eventual winning run on a passed ball in the top of the ninth and earned the save with a game-ending strikeout as fifth-seeded Penn State Beaver defeated top-seeded Apprentice School 2-1 in the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship on Tuesday afternoon.

Apprentice School (25-14) will now play at 1:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon in an elimination game against the winner of Penn State Greater Allegheny and Southern Maine CC.  Penn State Beaver will face the winner of Briarcliffe and UC Clermont at 4 pm on Wednesday in the winners bracket final.

The Builders scored in the first inning as Ryan Wagner started with a walk and stole second before scoring on a RBI single from Jonathan Dehoux.

Penn State Beaver was held in check until the sixth inning when Vincent Beatty singled and advanced to third on a sacrifice and a groundout before scoring on a Marcus Allen single to left field.  In the ninth, Frederick reached on a throwing error and advanced to second.  Following a groundout to move him to third, he scored on the passed ball for a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Builders put runners on the corners with two outs before the Lions brought in Frederick to close the game with a strikeout.

Dehoux was 2-for-3 to lead the Builders nine-hit attack.  Coire Barnitz took the loss pitching 3.1 innings of relief of starter Tabb Griffey.  Joe Scherer earned the win for Penn State Beaver throwing 8.2 innings and striking out five.