LEWISTON, Idaho -- Evan Salmon's two-run single in the 11th broke a 3-3 tie to lift Indiana Wesleyan University to a 5-3 win over the Bellevue University baseball team in an elimination game at the 2023 Avista NAIA World Series.
Indiana Wesleyan remains alive with their 40th win of the season, improving to 40-19-1 while Bellevue closes out the year at 48-10.
Indiana Wesleyan 5, Bellevue 3 (11 Innings)
After a pair of scoreless innings by both sides to open the game, IWU and Bellevue traded third inning runs.
Colby Jenkins singled home Lucas Goodin in the top half and Logan Grant doubled home Brendan Luther in the bottom of the frame.
In the top of the fourth, the Wildcats received RBI-singles from pinch hitter Nick Wiley and Goodin to take a 3-1 lead.
Mathieu Sirois answered by homering for a third-straight game to cut the Indiana Wesleyan lead in half.
Bellevue starter Blake Crippen walked two of the first three men he faced in the sixth, recording just a sac bunt for an out. Easton Brinton came out of the bullpen and induced a ground out before punching out Salmon to strand a pair of runners in scoring position.
Two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth put IWU starter Brock Buckley on the verge of a quality start but a two-out walk to Anthony Lind spelled the end of the day for the right-hander. Jake Lacey greeted reliever Hunter Hoffman with a double down the left field line to score Lind with the tying run.
Each team threatened just once more before extras. Tradd Richardson threw out Jenkins attempting to steal third to end the Wildcats' threat in the seventh.
Sirois and Lind each delivered two-out singles in the eighth but that threat was thwarted when Lacey flew out to end the inning.
Indiana Wesleyan put the go-ahead run on third in the 10th but Brinton struck out J Morton to retire the side.
Brinton struck out the leadoff man in the 11th but ceded the ball to Teron Williams after Luke Roman doubled to left. With the bases loaded and just one out in the 11th, Salmon singled through the hole on the left side to plate a pair of runs giving the Wildcats a 5-3 lead. Williams retired the next two batters but the damage was done.
Two quick outs in the 11th saw Bellevue's season come down to their final out. Conner Barnett, pinch-hitting for Richardson, reached on an infield single and Drew Staley delivered a base hit up the middle to put the tying run on base. Hoffman popped Kanta Kobayashi up to short to end the game.
Hoffman (7-2) worked 5.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out six and scattering six hits to earn the victory.
Brinton (6-2), despite allowing just one run on four hits and punching out five in five innings of relief took the loss for Bellevue.
Season in Review:
Bellevue finishes the 2023 season at 48-10 overall, their third-consecutive 40-win campaign, won both the NSAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships, claimed their second straight NAIA Opening Round title, and reached the Avista NAIA World Series for the 16th time in program history.
Notes:
- Kanta Kobayashi finishes his career sixth all-time in hits (196) and becomes just the second player with 300+ career plate appearances to record an on-base percentage over .500 (.503)
