St. Thomas Advances to World Series Championship Game
LEWISTON, IDAHO - St. Thomas is now one win away from its first national championship in school history in any sport.
Trailing by three runs entering the ninth inning, ninth seeded St. Thomas (48-17) rallied to defeat second seeded Faulkner (51-14) 6-3 in 10 innings late Wednesday night at the Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
With the win, the Bobcats advance to the Championship Game of the Avista-NAIA World Series on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET against the winner of Faulkner and Lewis-Clark State.
The Bobcats, who are 4-1 in the 10-team, double-elimination tournament, have now won four consecutive elimination games.
In the top of the ninth trailing 3-0, the Bobcats rallied with back-to-back, one-out singles by left fielder Jerry Downs and first baseman Eric Santamaria followed by a hit-by-pitch for catcher Steven Fischer which loaded the bases. Adam Duarte then came on as a pinch hitter and hit a two-run single scoring Downs and Santamaria to make it a one-run game. Third baseman Brandon Canizares lined out to center field, then second baseman Michael Centeno put the ball in play resulting in an error by Faulkner's first baseman Cody Sos that scored David Quintero who had entered as a pinch runner for Fischer.
In the tenth, shortstop Cesar Ramirez hit a leadoff single. Downs then reached on a fielder's choice and pinch runner Quintero was safe at second on an error. Fischer drew a walk to load the bases. Duarte then was hit-by-pitch to drive in the go-ahead run scored by Quintero. Canizares blew the game open with a two-run single scoring Downs and pinch runner Andrew Denis to give the Bobcats the 6-3 lead.
Closer Chris Rodriguez earned his third win of the NAIA World Series, shutting out the Eagles over the final two innings.
Faulkner scored a run on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Edgar Figueroa in the fourth, then went up 2-0 with a RBI single by second baseman Dario Polanco in the fifth. In the sixth inning, the Eagles added another run on a bizarre play on a two-out double by center fielder Chris Madera who scored on the play due to a two-base error.
STU's starting pitcher Alex Hernandez had an effective outing, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking one. Brandon Valentin relieved Hernandez in the sixth and retired the first two batters he faced before allowing an unearned run on Madera's double.
Reliever Alex Viera came in to pitch the seventh and struck out the side. Viera then shut out the Eagles in the eighth as well with some help defensively on a caught stealing by catcher Steven Fischer and a sensational diving catch in foul territory by second baseman Michael Centeno to end the inning.
With the score tied 3-3, Rodriguez fought off a potential Eagles' rally in the bottom to force extra innings. The freshman closer then put away Faulkner in the tenth to earn the win and begin the celebration for the Bobcats.
Friday's championship game will pit St. Thomas against the winner of Thursday's Faulkner vs. Lewis Clark State game. The championship game is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app.
Note (from NAIA PR): The Bobcats receive the bye into the championship game because they are the final team remaining that has not had a bye at the World Series.
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