Results from the second day of the NAIA Opening Round.
In Santa Barbara, CA:
Westmont 7, British Columbia 6 (10 innings)
The Thunderbirds scored all six of their runs with two out in the top of the eighth inning. The first one was scored by Aaron Marsh, when Mike Fitzsimmons reached on an error. Brandon Hupe hit a two-run home run, and Kyle Anderson hit a three-run home run (his second home run of the tournament). The Thunderbirds led 6-2, but it didn’t last. The Warriors jumped on Brendan Logan for four runs in the bottom of the eighth, with RBI singles by Shane Hofstadler and Robbie Haw, and a two-RBI single by Brady Renck. So, the game was tied 6-6 going into the ninth inning. The Thunderbirds left runners on first and second in the top of the ninth, then Logan pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth, and the Thunderbirds were in extra innings for the second straight game.
Anderson drew a walk with two out in the top of the tenth, but got no further. Logan was relieved by Daniel Orfaly in the bottom of the tenth. He was greeted with a single by Liam Critchett. He got a fly out, then Michael Soper hit a bunt single, putting Critchett on second base. He then scored the winning run on a single by Haw.
The Thunderbirds were kept off the board for seven innings by Warrior ace Bryan Peck. He allowed four hits, struck out seven, and gave up zero earned runs. (He was charged with the first two runs of the eighth.) He also walked four batters and hit one. However, starter Sean Heppner and James Brock did a great job of keeping the Thunderbirds in the game. Sean pitched five innings, allowed two runs on eight hits, struck out four. Problem was, he got through several long at-bats, and had to leave the game after throwing 102 pitches. (The same thing happened to Ryan Beitel in the previous game; he had to leave after 103 pitches in only four innings.) James Brock pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowed only one hit, struck out two.
Gabe Arteaga got the win for the Warriors; he pitched the final two innings, allowed only one hit, walked two. Heppner got the loss. Marsh finished 2-for-3 with a double, and drew two walks. Renck finished 4-for-5. The Warriors out-hit the Thunderbirds 18-7. Recap Box score
The Thunderbirds will play Vanguard in an elimination game at 11 AM PDT on Wednesday. Video
Vanguard def. Antelope Valley 4-2, eliminating Antelope Valley from the tournament. A two-run home run by Antonio Omphroy in the bottom of the eighth won it for the Lions.
Westmont def. Benedictine-Mesa 7-2. Brady Renck went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, and three RBI. Eric Oseguera got the win.
In Lewiston, ID:
Science and Arts of Oklahoma def. Hope International 20-12, eliminating the #1 seed from the tournament. Christopher Martinez went 4-for-6 with a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored.
Lewis-Clark State 5, Concordia-Ann Arbor 4
The Cardinals opened the scoring in the top of the third inning with an RBI single by Jarrett Batanian, followed by two runs scoring when Justin Kozlowski reached on an error. However, the Warriors answered with a grand slam home run by Isaiah Thomas in the bottom of the third inning. The Cardinals tied it 4-4 in the top of the sixth with a home run by Batanian, but the Warriors got the winning run in the bottom of the seventh by Isaac Haws. Haws entered the game in the top of the fifth inning to replace an injured Pu’ukani De Sa at second base.
Jake Green got the win in relief. He pitched the final three innings, didn’t allow a hit, struck out three, walked two. Kenneth (Dave) Rozmys got the loss. Thomas finished the game 3-for-4. Batanian finished the game 2-for-3. Box score
Science and Arts of Oklahoma and Concordia-Ann Arbor will play a loser-out game at 12:30 PM. The Warriors will play the winner of that game for the championship at 4 PM PDT on Wednesday. Video (paywalled) Audio (free)
