Taylor Nicholson got the start for the Coyotes
LEWISTON, Idaho - Ossie Alfonzo drove in three runs, including the go-ahead RBI single in a five-run fifth inning rally, as Point Park University defeated The College of Idaho, 7-3, in Game 1 of the 56th Annual AVISTA-NAIA World Series at Harris Field.
The Pioneers (52-9) rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to win their first Series game since the 1987 season, ending a nine-game skid. PPU will meet Lee University in Game 7 of the tournament, tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Trailing 3-2 in the fifth, Dillon Sauers and Tom Birko singled to open the inning – with Lee Bodnar lining a one-out base hit to even the score at 3-3. Alfonzo followed with an RBI single to give PPU the lead for good. Steve Dujka drove in a run with a squeeze bunt, with Tom Pasinski capping the scoring with a two-run single to center.
Sean Clark worked out of trouble all afternoon, going seven-plus innings, working around five hits by pitches and five hits to pick up his eighth win of the year. Horatio Acosta tossed two shutout innings to close out the victory.
The Coyotes (41-20) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third, as Todd Griffiths was plunked and Brett Ward singled to start the inning. Zach Fabricius followed with an RBI single to get the Yotes on the board. Izaac Garsez doubled home Ward, with Tanner Hodges lifting a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 3-0. PPU got out the jam as Jeffrey Harris hit a laser to Birko at second, who turned a bang-bang double play end the threat.
The Pennsylvania nine got a pair back in the bottom of the third on a two-out seeing-eye RBI single from Alfonzo.
Taylor Nicholson went five innings for the Yotes, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits, striking out four.
Alfonzo went 2-for-4 with three RBI with Don McDuffie and Sauers adding two hits for PPU – part of the Pioneers 11-hit attack. Jesse Dodd and Ward had two hits in the loss.
The Yotes will play in a elimination game tomorrow at Noon against NAIA West rival, Lewis-Clark State