SEASIDE, Calif. - The Northwest Nazarene baseball team defeated Cal State Monterey Bay in comeback fashion thanks impart to a
Carter Walsh three-run go-ahead homer in the ninth.
The Nighthawks felt confident going into this game against the top seeded Otters after a win over San Marcos yesterday and their ace on the mound today.
Corbin Talley was named the NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Year just hours before first pitch and had yet to lose a game this season. However, things did not go as planned for Talley.
The big lefty gave up back-to-back homers in the first inning that included a three-run blast to put the Nighthawks in a 4-0 hole early. NNU responded well in the top of the second as
Kyle Becker led off with a double and took third on an
Adrian Arechiga single. After
Caleb Boswell struck out, Mestas stepped up with runners on the corners and doubled to left field. Initially, the Nighthawks only scored one as Arechiga was thrown out at home but a Joe Schaffer challenge overturned the call and cut the Monterey Bay lead in half. Corbin Burns hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop, who was unable to field it cleanly which allowed Burns to reach safely and aggressive base running from
Jake Mestas brought NNU within one.
The top of the third is where NNU would take the lead as
Kaleb Karpstein led off the inning with a walk and
Kyle Becker singled down teh left field line to move Karpstein to second. Arechiga grounded out on a hit and run to move both runners to second and third.
Caleb Boswell singled to right to drive in both Becker and Karpstien and the Nighthawks took a 5-4 lead. The Northwest Nazarene lead held until an Otter homer to center in the fourth to tie it at five.
CSUMB took control in the following inning with four runs on six hits that ended Talley's day on the mound. Despite the deficit, NNU continued to fight scoring run in the sixth on a
Tate Lewis solo shot.
It felt is if it just wasn't NNU's day as CSUMB added three more runs on three hits in the sixth. The Nighthawks were in a good position to cut into the 6-12 deficit with back-to-back walks but a pitching change struck out two and popped up another to end the inning.
Tate Lewis homered for the second time to make it a 12-7 game but once again the offense was unable to plate any more. Heading into the final inning, NNU need five runs to stay alive.
Gavin Brubaker hit a lead off single but a
Kaleb Karpstein fly out seemed as if the small bit of momentum they gathered was fizzling out.
Kyle Becker then singled to advance Brubaker to second but yet again, Arechiga flew out to center.
With the Nighthawks down to their final out,
Caleb Boswell was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Jake Mestas then hit a triple to right center to unload the bases and make it a 10-12 game.
Tate Lewis looked to tie it up as he had homered with his last two at bats but worked a walk instead and was pinch ran for by
Cooper Nixon. Still down to their final out and the tying run at first, Carson burns singled through the right side to score Mestas and move the tying run to scoring position.
The job wasn't finished as NNU was still trailing by one run and didn't have an out to spare. The reigning GNAC Player of the Year found himself in the biggest position of his career. He took the first pitch in the dirt that moved Nixon to third and Burns to second. Walsh then fouled off the second pitch to bring the count to 1-1.
Carter Walsh swung at the next pitching sending it to deep center field and sailed over the fence for a go-ahead three-run homer to put the Nighthawks up 14-12.
Tyson Rutherford came in to pitch the ninth but would be taken out after a lead off walk as Joe Schaeffer and company went to
Gavin Brubaker in the save situation. Brubaker struck out the first batter and a wild pitch on the next batter advanced teh runner to second. A fly out got CSUMB to their final out. An Otter walk but the tying run on first but a ground ball to short ended to came as the Nighthawks completed ann improbable comeback.
Corbin Talley pitched 4.2 innings giving up nine runs on 12 hits with five strikeouts.
Tyler Stolfich pitched 0.1 inning giving up three runs on four hits with one strikeout.
Myles Anderson pitched 2.0 innings and didn't give up any runs with only one hit.
Hawk Hill (W, 2-0) got the win, pitching 1.0 inning and only gave up a hit with one strikeout.
Tyson Rutherford started the ninth inning but didn't record an out, facing only one batter.
Gavin Brubaker then came in a got his second save of the year with a strikeout.
Kyle Becker and
Jake Mestas each had a double while Mestas added a triple in the ninth.
Tate Lewis homered twice and
Carter Walsh hit the go-ahead homer.
NNU is now 2-0 in the NCAA West Region and will look to advance to the NCAA Super Regional with a win over Cal State Monterey Bay tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT and game two will be approximately 30 minutes after game one if necessary.
