Thursday, May 12, 2016

NAMPA, Idaho – In dramatic fashion, Northwest Nazarene scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Montana State Billings 4-3 in game three of the GNAC Baseball Championships.

The win advanced Northwest Nazarene to the championship game on Friday. By virtue of all three teams with one loss after day one, the No. 1 seeded Crusaders earned a spot in the final game and await the winner of Montana State Billings and Western Oregon at 1 p.m. Mountain time.

Entering the eighth inning down by a run, outfielder Tim Jones launched a leadoff solo home run over the right field fence to even the game up at three apiece. Catcher Spencer Pollock immediately followed up with a triple laced into right field that just got past the outfielder on an excellent diving effort. Shortstop Tucker Campbell singled Pollock home for the go-ahead run and the eventual game winner.

The teams were locked in a pitchers’ duel through the first six innings, with NNU starter Jaramy Jacobs throwing six innings with two runs allowed, both coming in the first inning. Montana State Billings starting pitcher Tanner Johnson pitched 6.1 innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts. Neither pitcher factored into the decision.

Designated hitter Adam Cox continued to rake at the plate, crushing a two-run home run in the top of the first to give the Yellowjackets and early lead.

Pollock drove in the Crusaders first run in the fourth inning on a bases loaded walk with no outs. Johnson limited the damage, however, striking out the next three batters to preserve the MSUB lead 2-1.

In the seventh inning, Montana State Billings outfielder Luke Reinschmidt hit a solo home run to make it 3-1 Yellowjackets. Northwest Nazarene outfielder Ryan Johnson answered back in the bottom half with a solo home run of his own to cut the lead back down to one.

Closer Ryan Nyborg picked up his GNAC leading ninth save of the season with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning. Blake Mitchell earned his fourth victory in relief, pitching two innings with one run allowed and four strikeouts.

Montana State Billings faces Western Oregon in the opening game on Friday at 1 p.m. Mountain time. The winner will face Northwest Nazarene in the championship game, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MT.