Video highlights (courtesy SWX)
LEWISTON, Idaho – St. Thomas advanced to the semifinal of the 2019 Avista NAIA World Series Monday night after holding off a determined Science & Arts team, 6-5, at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field.
After Science & Arts took the early lead on Coleton Horner’s second inning two-run home run, the Bobcats had three successive two-run innings to take a 6-2 lead. The Drovers weren’t finished and chipped away with one run in the fifth, one in the eighth and another in the ninth. The victory wasn’t secure for St. Thomas until Luis Pelayo flied out to left with two out and a runner at first in the top of the ninth.
Daniel Mondejar drove in three runs with two hits, while Chris Garabedian drove in two off two hits to lead the Bobcats.
St. Thomas (47-13 and seeded sixth) takes on top-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan (53-9) in the battle of the unbeatens Tuesday at 7 p.m. Science & Arts (46-11 and the second seed) plays third-seeded and reigning champion Southeastern (52-11) in a loser-out game at 3 p.m. with No. 9 Bellevue University (47-15) playing No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett (47-12) in Tuesday’s opening game at 11 a.m.
