Results of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID for May 29.
Indiana Wesleyan 11, Georgia Gwinnett 10 (Georgia Gwinnett eliminated)
The Wildcats got ten runs in the first two innings, and they needed every one of them, plus one more that they added in the bottom of the eighth.
The Wildcats’ barrage was led by three-run home runs by Ty Mathews and Jeff Morton in the second inning. However, the Grizzlies got back into the game with five runs in the top of the fourth, led by a three-run home run by Braxton Meguilar, and a solo home run by Caden Smith. Ajay Szcepkowski added another solo home run in the fifth, and the Wildcats’ lead was cut to 10-6. The Grizzlies made it a one-run game by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Cohen Wilbanks, an RBI single by Devin Warner, and a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Brody Parkerson. However, in the bottom of the eighth, the Bobcats got what turned out to be a crucial insurance run. The Grizzlies got within one run again with Szcepkowski’s second home run of the game in the top of the ninth, but the game ended with a double play.
Grayson Knight got the win for the Bobcats, and Jake Engelkes got a save. It was Ben Weber who held the Bobcats to one run over 5 2/3 innings, allowed three hits, struck out six. Joe Quelch finished 3-for-5 for the Grizzlies, with two runs scored. Recap Box score
Lewis-Clark State 16, MidAmerica Nazarene 7 (MidAmerica Nazarene eliminated)
The Warriors took an 8-3 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a three-run home run by Charlie Updegrave. They added three runs in the third inning, and completed their scoring with five runs in the fourth, including back-to-back home runs by Isaiah Thomas and Dominic Signorelli. Warrior starter Jace Hanson went seven innings, allowed five earned runs on six hits, struck out five.
Sean Maple went 3-for-4 for the Pioneers with a home run, a double, and three runs scored. Updegrave also hit an RBI double. Nick Seamons went 3-for-5 with four RBI. Recap Box score
Westmont 15, Taylor 9
The Warriors started the scoring with seven runs in the top of the third, led by a two-RBI single by Brady Renck and a two-RBI double by Finn Snyder. They made it 8-0 in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by Ryan DeSaegher. The Trojans got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a two-run home run by Sam Gladd. In the next inning, they took a 9-8 lead with three-run home runs by T.J. Bass and Gladd. They didn’t score again. The Warriors got the winning run in the top of the sixth on a two-run home run by DeSaegher. They added two runs in the eighth, but didn’t put it away until they scored three runs in the ninth, two of them on a double by Renck.
Aidan Holly got the win in relief; he pitched 2 2/3 innnings, allowed one run on one hit, struck out four. The Trojans used eight pitchers; Nick Crabtree got the loss. Recap Box score
William Carey 13, Southeastern 4
A.J. Stinson went the distance for the Crusaders, scattered eight hits and eight walks, struck out six. Two of the runs he allowed were in the ninth inning, when the outcome was no longer in doubt. He also made an impressive defensive play in the top of the seventh inning; he knocked down a ground ball bare-handed, recovered, and threw a strike to first for the out.
The Crusaders gave the #1-ranked Fire their fifth loss of the season. They took the lead for good with a two-run home run by Patrick Lee in the bottom of the first inning. The winning run came in the fourth inning on a two-RBI double by Jake Lycette. Lycette also hit a solo home run in the eighth inning.
The Crusaders’ Kris Jones made an excellent defensive play in right field in the top of the sixth inning; he threw a strike to home plate to get an inning-ending out.
Robb Adams, who pitched the first three innings for the Fire, got the loss. Lycette finished 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI, and five runs scored. Rigoberto Hernandez finished 3-for-5 with three RBI for the Crusaders. Recap Box score
Schedule for Tuesday:
All times PDT.
11:05 AM: Lewis-Clark State vs. Taylor (loser out)
3:05 PM: Southeastern vs. Indiana Wesleyan (loser out)
6:35 PM: Westmont vs. William Carey
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