Faulkner edges Tennessee Wesleyan 4-3 in 11 innings

LEWISTON, Idaho (faulknereagles.com) – It was, put simply, a battle of heavyweights in the final four round of the Avista-NAIA World Series.

With both teams going with their first-game starters in extra-inning relief, it was top seed Faulkner who finally delivered the knockout punch to second seed Tennessee Wesleyan here Wednesday night, keeping Patrick McCarthy’s Eagles alive in their chase for the program’s second national championship.

This one went 11 rounds at Harris Field, with Faulkner surviving when Bulldog third baseman Sully Rios Reyes threw wildly to first on a two-out grounder, allowing pinch-runner Luke Carnley to score all the way from second with the game-winner. The Eagles flooded out of Harris Field’s third base dugout, mobbing Carnley and Deivy Palmeiro, the hitter who began the decisive play with the scorcher toward the line.

The victory sends Faulkner into a Thursday night game against the winner of Wednesday’s late game between host and defending national champion Lewis-Clark State and Bellevue (Neb.). If it’s Lewis-Clark State, the Eagles will need to beat the Warriors Thursday and again Friday night to capture the title. If Bellevue wins late Wednesday, Faulkner would face the Bruins Thursday with the winner battling Lewis-Clark State Friday night for the championship.

Thursday night’s game is set for a 8:35 central time start.

“Anybody that knows baseball knows that was two great baseball teams going toe-to-toe,” said McCarthy, whose team won for the 52nd time this season. “I’m proud of our guys for once again digging deep and finding a way to win the game. This team just refuses to give in, even when it appears things aren’t going our way.”

Faulkner has won three of four games in Lewiston despite missing three of its key players. Mark Vasquez, the undefeated ace of the pitching staff, and leadoff hitter Darrius Jennings were suspended prior to the World Series for a violation of team rules. Top reliever Marco Blanchard was injured in the Opening Round championship game and, like Vasquez and Jennings, will miss the remainder of the season. In their absence the short-handed Eagles have displayed the heart of a champion, regardless of the tournament’s outcome.

“I honestly can say I’m not sure I’ve ever been more proud of a group in my coaching career,” McCarthy said. “Teaching baseball is just a fraction of our responsibilities as coaches. When we have young men come into our program, it’s our job to teach them about life and help them become men. Sometime you have to make decisions that are in the best interest of the student-athlete and their future. I love both Mark and Darrius, and we cried together when they were informed of our decision. They’re here supporting us, and the rest of our team has rallied behind them and Marco. The three have become big cheerleaders for us.”

Faulkner’s three pitchers Wednesday night were all impressive, with starter Victor Arche, middle reliever Miguel Castellanos and Christian Torres combining to shutdown the potent Bulldog bats. Tennessee Wesleyan came into the battle with a Series-leading 30 runs and 42 hits in its three games in Lewiston. Against the trio of Eagles, the three runs came on only seven hits.

“Awesome,” is how McCarthy described the performances. “It took each of those guys leaving it out there to give us a chance,” McCarthy added. “And that’s exactly what they did.”

Tennessee Wesleyan (50-15) jumped on top in the first inning, with Wardy Polanco’s long home run to left giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Faulkner tied it in the bottom of the second when Dennis Morton blasted a homer of his own over the left-center field wall, and it stayed that way until the fifth. With one out, Alfred Cruz lifted another home run to left, and Polanco’s run-scoring double later in the inning pushed the advantage to 3-1.

Bulldog head coach Travis Watson, his his first year at TWC after spending the previous five as McCarthy’s top assistant at Faulkner, got a strong five innings from starting pitcher Chris Washington. He then turned it over to hard-throwing right-hander Chevis Hoover, who struck out four Eagles in getting through the sixth and seventh innings unscathed. The eighth, however, turned into the pivotal frame of the game. After T.J. Condon and Mario Amaral singled to open the inning, Watson pulled Hoover for staff ace Ryan Hartman, who was the starting pitcher and winner in the Eagles’ victory over Sterling (Kan.) Saturday afternoon.

Pinch-hitter Chase Morris then bunted to third, and Reyes’ throw pulled first baseman Cody Stroud off the bag to load the bases with no outs. Hartman then struck out Morton and Nick Cain, bringing to the plate Onix Martinez, Faulkner’s ninth hitter in the lineup. On a 3-2 pitch, the Eagles’ shortstop singled up the middle, driving in a pair of runs to tie the game.

Torres, who started Faulkner’s Series opener Saturday night, held Tennessee Wesleyan hitless in 3 1/3 innings to earn the victory, allowing just one base runner on a catcher’s interference call in the top of the 11th. On a sacrifice bunt attempt that followed, Torres fielded it and fired to second baseman Dario Polanco, who turned the key double play. A groundout ended the Bulldogs’ at-bat, giving way for the Faulkner dramatics in the bottom of the inning.

Alexis Cruz and David Palenzuela opened the rally with a pair of singles off of Hartman. Condon then bounced back to the pitcher, who threw to third for the first out of the inning. Amaral flew out to left for the second out, leaving the stage to Palmeiro and Conley to end it.

“A great night for our team, but I do hurt for Travis,” McCarthy said. “He has meant so much to me over the years, and all I could do was hug his neck after this. He has done a remarkable job in his first year, and they’ll be back here a lot. I can promise you that.”

Amaral had three hits for Faulkner, which pounded out 14 for the second straight night. Cruz, Palenzuela, Condon and Morton added two apiece. Polanco and Cruz were the only two Bulldogs with multiple hits. Hartman took the loss, his first of the season against 10 victories.