LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – An eight-run eighth inning put the Beacons out of contention on Tuesday as they dropped an elimination game to Ottawa University of Arizona in in the NAIA Opening Round, 12-6.
Bushnell took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning and were just six outs away from advancing when the wheels fell off as the Spirit capitalized on two critical Bushnell errors, resulting in all eight runs being unearned.
Trailing 4-3 in the fourth, Isaiah Hart had given the Beacons the 5-4 lead with a two-run homer to left-center field.
Alec Gums had provided 3.2 innings of scoreless relief and Colby Knutzen threw a perfect seventh to provide the Beacons with the necessary pitching to keep the lead, but a one-out error in the bottom of the eighth set the tone for what would be the deciding run for OUAZ.
Hart, who added a solo homer in the top of the ninth, finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI. Kyle Casperson went 2-for-4 and Reece Carganilla added a two-RBI single.
It was a sour end to what was a phenomenal season for the third-year Beacons program as Bushnell (29-26) won their first CCC Tournament Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history.
Head Coach Tommy Richards said, “This group has brought me a cosmic level of joy and although I am sad to see it end, my heart is full. I am amazed by their resilience and the legacy that they have built. Moving forward, it is our job to honor their work and continue to build this program. I believe those leaving us are prepared to stand on their own in the world as men and I have the upmost respect for all of our players.”