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ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Riding the coattails of a complete game effort from starter Alex Clouthier and a five-run fourth inning explosion from the offense, second-seeded Trevecca Nazarene finds itself just one (or two) win(s) away from a Midwest Regional title in the NCAA Division II Championship bracket.
The Trojans improved to 3-0 in the double-elimination, six-team bracket after defeating future Great Midwest Athletic Conference member No. 6 seed Northwood at the Lou Brock Complex on Saturday, 9-4.
Faced with a bases-loaded, two-out situation in the bottom of the ninth inning, Clouthier battled GLIAC Player of the Year Cole Brooks at the plate with plenty at stake for both sides. Brooks went opposite field off the TNU LHP and hit a sinking liner that was snared by a diving John O’Dwyer in the outfield.
TNU has been locked in and focused, taking it one game at a time under Great Midwest Coach of the Year Chase Sain after winning the conference regular season and tournament at PRASCO Park.
The Trojans defeated No. 5 Quincy on Thursday and took care of business against No. 4 seed Lindenwood on Friday in the winner’s bracket.
If you have been a faithful follower of the Trojans (35-10), it might be hard to temper your excitement overnight. A trip to the College World Series in Cary, N.C., is within reach and Trevecca Nazarene needs to beat No. 3 seed Davenport just once to nail a spot in the final eight of the national bracket as a regional champion.
As Trevecca Nazarene kept winning and preserving arms for its postseason run, teams bowed out as they suffered their second loss of the regional. First, it was No. 1 seed Illinois-Springfield making an exit. Three more teams were eliminated on Saturday including region host Lindenwood, Quincy and Northwood, in order.
Clouthier came through in a big way by recording six strikeouts against the Timberwolves, which threw a wrench into the bracket day one with their upset over the top-seeded Prairie Stars of UIS. Clouthier scattered 10 hits over the nine frames and yielded four runs to improve to 4-1.
A gritty plate appearance from Andru Becker after fouling a ball off his shin set the tone for a pivotal turn of events in the fourth inning after Northwood led 4-1. The Trojans eventually batted around and came through with an RBI grounder through the right side of the infield that made it 4-2.
All-region outfielder Braden Odom did a great job of putting the ball in play down 0-2 in the count for another run-scoring play. Then it was all-conference second baseman Ethan Harrison going up the middle of the diamond to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs.
The inning continued as Bryant Goolsby, who hit a three-run homer yesterday, also kept the ball on the ground for another RBI hit. O’Dwyer did it with his bat in the sixth inning as well, again delivering in an 0-2 count with a two-run single that represented the final scoring.
The defense contributed an inning-ending double play in the fifth and Clouthier worked a clean sixth inning on just seven pitches. He retired the side in order in the seventh frame and worked around a lone two-out single in the eighth.
The Trojans turn their attention to the Panthers of Davenport, who staved off elimination by defeating Quincy earlier in the day. Davenport’s loss in the regional came against Lindenwood in the opening round.
First pitch of tomorrow’s championship series starts at 2 p.m. ET. If necessary, a game two would be scheduled to start 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.