NAIA Baseball National Championship, fifth day

Results from the fifth day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID.

Hope International 15, Georgia Gwinnett 11 (Georgia Gwinnett eliminated). The was two different ball games. The Grizzlies totally dominated the first five innings. They scored in every inning except the fourth, and the first two Royals pitchers, David Rudd-Grow and Josh Landry, were unable to keep the Grizzlies off the base paths. The Grizzlies got five runs in the bottom of the second, capped with a two-RBI double by Henry Daniels. They added two runs in the third with a home run by Joe Quelch and a sacrifice fly by Braxton Meguiar. They got three runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Meguiar and Daniels, and an RBI on a fielder’s choice by Jackson Cobb. However, the Royals brought in Chandler De Jong to relieve Landry after the single by Meguiar. He got out of the inning with the Grizzlies leading 11-5, but the Grizzlies didn’t score again. De Jong got two ground outs and a strikeout for a clean sixth inning, and turned the ball over to submariner Steven Ordorica, who went the rest of the way, allowed one hit, and didn’t walk a batter.

It was still 11-5 going into the eighth inning, but the Royals got some breaks. The eighth inning started with a home run by Derek Sims. Ryan Maciel followed with a single, but he was caught off first base after a popup, and there were two outs. Amari Bartee got the two-out rally started with a double, then scored on a double by David Rivera. The Grizzlies brought in Jeremiah Locklear to pitch. He walked the first batter he faced, Alex Moreno. The next batter, J.J. Cruz, hit a fly ball down the left field line that was touched by a fielder, and initially ruled a foul ball. After a long video review, the call was reversed; Cruz was awarded second base, Moreno third base, and Rivera a run. After Locklear got behind 3-0 to the next batter, Austin Testerman was brought in to pitch. He threw a wild pitch, and Moreno scored. The inning ended with the Royals trailing by only 11-9.

The ninth inning started with Testerman walking the first two batters, one of them on four pitches. Then the Royals caught another break. Pinch-hitter Mylan Jones laid a bunt that dribbled down the third base line. The Grizzly fielders thought it was going foul, but it halted on the fair side of the base line, and the bases were loaded with the go-ahead run on first. Testerman hit the next batter. He walked Rivera, the following batter, and the game was tied at 11. Testerman was finally relieved by Wyatt Dodgens. The first batter he faced was Moreno, who hit a ground ball to the shortstop that scored the winning run and an insurance run, but the Royals also got yet another break. The defensive play was for an out at second base, but after another video review, it was ruled that the ball was bobbled, and everyone was safe. Cruz hit a single to load the bases again, and Alec Arnone hit a two-RBI single to put it away. The inning finally ended with a double play on a line drive to third base. The bottom of the ninth and the Grizzlies’ tournament ended with a double play.

Cruz had a huge game; 5-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI, and two runs scored. However, Ordorica deserves equal credit for shutting the Grizzlies down. Meguiar finished 2-for-4 with four RBI, and Daniels finished 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Attendance: 1,214. Box score

Story from Hope International site: Royals Advance to World Series Championship Game With Sensational Late Inning Comeback

 

 

Tennessee Wesleyan 6, Reinhardt 2. The Bulldogs won the first round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup in a close game. Daniel Davila came one out short of a complete game for the Bulldogs, allowed two runs on six hits, struck out 10, walked three, and threw 137 pitches. Both of the runs he allowed were in the bottom of the third inning, on an RBI single by Jarrett Burney, and an RBI double by Lance Dockery. At that point, the game was tied 2-2. Marco Martinez hit a two-run home run in the top of the third for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs got the winning run with an RBI single by Braxton Turner in the top of the fifth. He also batted in the rest of their runs with a three-RBI double in the top of the eighth.

The Eagles didn’t have a lot of scoring chances. Matty Maurer opened the seventh inning with a single. The next batter, Jacob Profit, made a bunt attempt that turned into a popup in foul territory that was an easy out. That inning ended when Jamel Rookard, the courtesy runner for Maurier, was caught trying to steal second. The bottom of the ninth started with a strikeout and a ground out. Rookard came in to pinch hit, and drew a walk. Davila was replaced by Jake Sergent to get that final out. Maurer hit a single, Profit drew a walk, and the bases were loaded with the tying run at the plate. However, Burney grounded out to end it. It was a close play at first, and was reviewed; the review confirmed that he was out.

The Eagles also got a good start, by Adam Christopher. He went seven innings, allowed two earned runs on seven hits, struck out four, threw 103 pitches, got the loss. Turner finished 2-for-4 with four RBI. Burney was the only Eagle with multiple hits. Attendance: 1,330. Box score

Story from Tennessee Wesleyan site: No. 6 Baseball Wins Elimination Game Against No. 5 Reinhardt; Sets Up Showdown for Championship Trip

Because Hope International has played one more game than Tennessee Wesleyan and Reinhardt, they get a pass to the final winner-take-all game on Friday, so Tennessee Wesleyan and Reinhardt play again on Thursday. Reinhardt defeated Hope International 7-5 on the first day of the tournament.

NAIA release: Day Five Recap of 2024 Avista NAIA World Series

Schedule for Thursday:

6:35 PM: Reinhardt vs. Tennessee Wesleyan

The winner plays Hope International for the championship on Friday.

Video on ESPN3 Audio (free)