Results of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID for May 26.
Taylor 6, MidAmerica Nazarene 5
Pinch-hitter Brennan Frickel hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning for the winning run. Trojan relievers Jack Ross and Gabel Pentecost held the Pioneers to one run, an RBI double by Brycen Sherwood, the rest of the way. T.J. Bass hit a home run and a double for the Trojans. Sherwood finished 2-for-5 with three RBI. Ross got the win, Pentecost got a save, and Bryce Brecklin got the loss. Recap Box score
Taylor will play Georgia Gwinnett on Saturday.
Westmont 7, U. of the Cumberlands 3
The Patriots led 3-2 going into the bottom of the eighth, but the Warriors scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to win it. The winning run was scored by Michael Soper, who drew a walk, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a balk. The insurance runs came on an RBI single by Ryan DeSaegher and a two-run home run by Bryce McFeely.
Warriors ace Bryan Peck kept them closed for seven innings. He allowed all of the Patriots’ runs, six hits, and only struck out one. Zach Yates, who pitched a hitless top of the eighth, got the win. Cesar Avila got the loss. Liam Critchett hit an early home run for the Warriors, Charlie Muniz hit one for the Patriots. Recap Box score
William Carey 6, Bellevue 4
The Crusaders led 4-0 after six innings. Crusaders starter Andrew Shirah held the Bruins scoreless for six innings, allowed only four hits. The Bruins ended the shutout with an RBI single by Tradd Richardson in the top of the seventh, then tied it with a three-run home run by Mathieu Sirois in the top of the eighth. However, the Crusaders answered with an RBI double by R.J. Stinson in the bottom of the eighth (the winning run) and a sacrifice fly by Jake Lycette. Patrick Lee made a great catch in center field in the top of the ninth to end the game.
Preston Ratliff, who pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, got the win. He didn’t allow a hit, struck out two, walked one. Kenji Miller got the loss. Rigoberto Hernandez finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI. Recap Box score
Lewis-Clark State 12, Indiana Wesleyan 4
The Warriors started off with two runs in the top of the first inning when Carter Booth scored on a ground out and Dominic Signorelli hit an RBI single. They added four runs in the second inning on several defensive mistakes by the Wildcats and a hit batter. The Warriors were able to cruise the rest of the way, largely because of a dominating performance by starter Trevin Hope; 6 1/3 innings pitched, one run on two hits, and eleven strikeouts. Charlie Updegrave and Isaiah Thomas hit home runs, and Signorelli went 3-for-5 with two doubles.
Starter Drue Young got the loss for the Wildcats. Ty Mathews hit a two-run home run in the late going. Attendance: 2,710. Recap Box score
The Warriors’ game against Southeastern Saturday night will be a rematch of last year’s final.
Schedule for Saturday:
All times PDT.
9:45 AM: MidAmerica Nazarene vs. U. of the Cumberlands (loser out)
11:35 AM: Bellevue vs. Indiana Wesleyan (loser out)
3:05 PM: Georgia Gwinnett vs. Taylor
6:35 PM: Southeastern vs. Lewis-Clark State
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