Baseball Advances to Championship Game with One-Run Victory

LINCOLN, Neb. – Doane rallied late and held off a furious ninth-inning push from Madonna (Mich.) to earn a 10-9 victory Tuesday afternoon at Sherman Field, advancing to the championship game of the NAIA Baseball Opening Round – Lincoln Bracket.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 46-9 overall and will play for the bracket championship at 4 p.m. Wednesday against either Texas Wesleyan or Madonna.

Doane never trailed for long in a back-and-forth contest that featured four lead changes and a combined 19 runs. The Tigers struck first in the opening inning when Jett Grossart delivered an RBI single to score Grant Sommers. Madonna answered immediately with two runs in the bottom half, including a solo home run from Aamir Mitchell.

The Tigers responded with a big second inning. After Max Harris reached on an error and Sam Kwapnioski drew a walk, Carter Roth launched a three-run homer to left field to give Doane a 4-2 advantage.

Madonna chipped away and eventually surged ahead in the fifth inning. After Doane built a 6-3 lead on RBI hits from Sommers and a sacrifice fly from Johnny Vulcano, the Crusaders answered with four runs in the bottom half. Ty Stepek's three-run homer gave Madonna a 7-6 lead and put the Tigers on the ropes.

Doane answered immediately in the sixth. Harris walked and later scored on Tanner Nelson's RBI single to tie the game at 7-7.

The decisive rally came in the eighth inning. Jordan Bond was hit by a pitch to begin the frame before Harris moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Roth then delivered an RBI single to put Doane back in front, and Grossart followed with a two-run single through the right side to extend the lead to 10-7.

Madonna threatened until the final out. The Crusaders scored once in the eighth and added another run in the ninth, bringing the tying run to third base before Ethan Merk induced a game-ending fly out to right field with the bases loaded.

Roth led the Tigers offensively, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored, highlighted by his three-run homer. Grossart added two hits and three RBI, while Sommers scored three times and finished with two hits and an RBI.

Merk earned the win in relief, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing two runs and striking out two to improve to 4-3 on the season.

Doane will now await Wednesday's championship matchup as the Tigers move one win away from advancing to the NAIA World Series.

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