Results of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID for May 27.
MidAmerica Nazarene 4, U. of the Cumberlands 3 (U. of the Cumberlands emiminated)
The Pioneers led all the way, despite getting only five hits. They got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single by Dionathan Cornet. They added two runs with a two-run home run by Sean Maple. They completed their scoring with a solo home run by Cornet in the third inning. Their starter, Zach Trevino, went 7 1/3 innings, allowed three runs on six hits, struck out nine, got the win. Reece Helland pitched the remaining 1 2/3 innings, allowed one hit, got the save.
The Patriots got their first run when Raphy Almanzar scored on a ground out by Sujel Arias in the third inning. They added an RBI double by Josh Simon in the sixth inning, and Max Harper scoring when Ben Snapp reached on a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning. However, the eighth inning ended with a ground out. The Patriots had runners on first and second with two out in the top of the ninth, but the game ended with a ground out.
Patriots starter Hunter Rigsby got the loss; he pitched five innings, allowed all four runs on four hits, struck out six. Garrett DeClue went the rest of the way, allowed only one hit. Recap Box score
Indiana Wesleyan 5, Bellevue 3 (11 innings) (Bellevue eliminated)
The Wildcats led 3-1 going into the bottom of the fourth. Mathieu Sirois hit a home run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-2, then Jake Lacey hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-3. There was no further scoring for four innings. The Bruins stranded a runner on third in the bottom of the eighth. They got a double play to end the top of the ninth. The Wildcats stranded a runner on third in the top of the tenth. In the top of the eleventh, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out, then Evan Salmon hit a two-RBI single. The Bruins got the tying run on first with two out in the bottom of the eleventh, but a popup to the shortstop ended the game.
Each side had twelve hits. Hunter Hoffman got the win. He entered the game in the sixth inning, pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings, allowed six hits, didn’t walk a batter, struck out six, and threw 93 pitches. His performance was matched by Easton Brinton, who also came on in the sixth inning, allowed four hits, struck out five, and was charged with one of the runs in the top of the eleventh, and got the loss. Colby Jenkins finished 3-for-6 with one RBI (the first run of the game, in the top of the first) for the Wildcats. Sirois finished 3-for-5. Recap Box score
Taylor 23, Georgia Gwinnett 7
The Grizzlies actually led this 6-2 after four innings, and Taylor led 9-7 after six. The Trojans erupted for eight runs in the top of the seventh, mostly dues to mistakes by the Grizzlies. They added six more in the top of the eighth.
Brayden Manning went 5-for-7 for the Trojans, with two RBI and four runs scored. He hit three doubles, which ties a tournament record. Mason David went 3-for-5 with a double and seven RBI. Alec Holcomb got the win, and Gabel Pentecost got his second save of the tournament. Jonathan Haab got the loss. Caden Smith hit two home runs for the Grizzlies. Ajay Sczepkowski went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run. Recap Box score
Southeastern 5, Lewis-Clark State 2
The Warriors tied the game 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning with a home run by Isaiah Thomas, but the Fire answered with a three-run home run by Chayce Bryant in the bottom of the eighth. Reece Wissinger then struck out the side in the top of the ninth for the win.
This was a rematch of last year’s final, and the people in Lewiston who stayed up past midnight got to see an excellent ball game. The Fire’s pitching was excellent. Starter Darien Smith went seven innings, Allowed only one earned run (Thomas’ home run) on five hits, walked two, struck out 13, and threw 120 pitches. Wissinger struck out five of the six batters he faced.
Thomas scored both of the Warriors’ runs. He reached second base in the top of the second inning on a dropped fly ball. He went to third on a wild pitch by Smith, and scored on yet another wild pitch. The Fire answered with an RBI single by Josh Pigozzo in the bottom of the second. The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Adonys Herrera hit an RBI single.
Reliever Alec Holmes got the loss. It was Cameron Smith who gave up the Bryant home run, but Holmes was charged with the two runners on base. Holmes entered the game in the fifth inning, pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed two hits, struck out three.
Reliever Alec Holmes got the loss. It was Cameron Smith who gave up the Bryant home run, but Holmes was charged with the two runners on base. Holmes entered the game in the fifth inning, pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed two hits, struck out three. Drake George started for the Warriors, pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed one earned run on four hits, walked four, struck out two.
Herrera finished 3-for-4 for the Fire. Attendance: 2,155. Recap Box score
Schedule for Monday:
All times PDT.
8:35 AM: Indiana Wesleyan vs. Georgia Gwinnett (loser out)
11:35 AM: Lewis-Clark State vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (loser out)
3:05 PM: Westmont vs. Taylor
6:35 PM: Southeastern vs. William Carey
Video (paywalled) Audio (free) Live stats
