SAUGET, Ill.-- #27 Wartburg's (33-14 overall) season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament against #5 Birmingham Southern (39-9) Saturday in the 6-1 loss.



The Panthers took the early lead in the first on an RBI triple. In the fourth, junior David Fitzgerald (Dubuque) drove in senior Jacob Thumann (DeWitt) from second on his single to centerfield to knot the game at one all.

It was all Birmingham Southern the rest of the way as it tallied one in the sixth and three in the seventh, which included a bases loaded walk. The Panthers plated their final run in the eighth on a single to centerfield.

The Knights looked to score in the eighth as junior Zach Hovick (Roland) hit a double and later moved to third on a wild pitch. He was unfortunately left stranded.

Thumann went 2-4 and senior Michael Knouse (Davenport) had his longest outing of the season as he pitched 6.1 innings and struck out three.
 
 For their efforts on the weekend, junior Austin Bohling (Letts) and Thumann were named to the NCAA III Baseball Central All-Tournament Team.