LEWISTON, Idaho - The Rogers State baseball team lives to see another day at the NAIA World Series as the Hillcats rallied to eliminate Point Park, 8-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Harris Field on the campus of Lewis-Clark State.
RSU had to come-from-behind for the third time in the tournament to advance to the round of four at the World Series.
Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Cody Campbell led off the inning with a first-pitch single up the middle. Randy Ramirez drew a full count walk to put pinch runner Taylor Estes in scoring position. Cade McKewon followed with a RBI single to left field to send Estes home and tie the game. Keith Poverud moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt and the Pioneers intentionally walked Brandon Bargas to load the bases. With two strikes against him, Eric Baker ripped the ball up the middle, scoring Ramirez and McKewon to give RSU the 8-6 lead.
The two run advantage was all Shawn Spainhoward needed to close out the game on the mound as he faced the minimum to seal the win for the Hillcats. The junior south paw tossed the final three innings and allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
The Pioneers struck first with a run in the top of the second as Don McDuffee hit a two-out blooper single to shallow left field, allowing Marlon Leyva to score from third after leading off the inning with a walk. With two outs, Tom Birko singled to shallow center and McDuffee rounded third towards home plate, however center fielder Eric Baker fired the ball home to catcher Lance Rymel who tagged him out to end the inning.
The Hillcats answered in the bottom of the frame and took a 2-1 lead as Bargas belted a two-out single to left field, bringing Cody Campbell and Ramirez home.
Rob Novia sparked the Pioneer offense in the top of the third with a leadoff single and reached second on an error. With one out, Ossie Alfonzo hit a RBI single down the third base line and Leyva followed with a two-run home run to give PPU a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Colton Campbell and Lance Rymel drew consecutive one-out walks followed by Cody Campbell who was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ramirez hit a chopper to the shortstop who elected to get the force out at second and Colton Campbell scored, leaving runners on the corners. During McKewon's at bat, Ramirez forced a rundown at first base, allowing Estes to score from third before Ramirez was tagged out, tying the game 4-4.
Each team plated a run in the sixth and the Pioneers took a 6-5 lead in the seventh before the Hillcats started their rally.
Spainhoward improved to 11-2 while starting pitcher Eric Faust tossed six solid innings and tallied the no decision. The senior from Winfield, Kan. allowed five runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts.
Mike Tullio (6-5) was tagged with the loss as he tossed the final 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits with two walks. Starting pitcher Manny Perdomo pitched 5.1 innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on 13 hits with five walks and one strikeout.
Rogers State (48-15) will return to action tomorrow at Harris Field. RSU's opponent will be determined by the 2012 Avista-NAIA World Series Game Committee later today. Check www.rsuhillcats.com for opponent and game time.
