Master’s Eliminated by Dallas Baptist, 6-4

Andy Salazar hit a run-scoring single for The Master’s College in the ninth inning, but the rally fell short and the Mustangs were eliminated from the NAIA World Series, 6-4, on Thursday night by Dallas Baptist at Lewiston, Idaho.

Salazar went four for four to lead a 12-hit attack for the Mustangs.

Michael Wertz hit a two-run single in the third inning to give The Master’s (37-15) a 2-0 lead.

Dallas Baptist scored six unanswered runs, including three in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded walk by Josh Wood, an error on a pop fly and a fielder’s choice ground out to take a 6-2 lead.

The Mustangs got one run back in the bottom of the sixth when Salazar hit a leadoff triple and scored on a double by Wertz.

After Salazar hit his RBI single in the ninth, Wertz hit into a force out for the second out Mike Ploharz took a called third strike.

Ploharz pitched the final four innings for The Master’s, giving up four hits and getting two strikeouts and allowing no runs.

Josh Wood (3-4) allowed six hits, four runs, three earned, with no strikeouts and two walks.

Wertz and Chris Kollmann each had two hits for The Master’s, which left 10 runners on base to 13 for the Patriots (43-22-1).

Kenny Trapp pitched the last four innings for Dallas Baptist, allowing one earned run and five hits while striking out six.

Starter David Horton (11-2) allowed seven hits and three earned runs in five innings.

The Patriots will play Lewis-Clark State today for the championship. If Dallas Baptist wins, a second game would be played Saturday.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NAIA

World Series

At Lewis-Clark State College,

Lewiston, Idaho

Tuesday’s results

Master’s College 10, Shawnee State 1

(Shawnee State eliminated)

Indiana Tech 4, Albertson College 3

(Albertson eliminated)

Wednesday’s results

Lewis-Clark State 4, Dallas Baptist 3

Thursday’s results

Dallas Baptist 6, Master’s College 4

(Master’s eliminated)

Lewis-Clark State 9, Indiana Tech 8

(Indiana Tech eliminated)

Today

Dallas Baptist vs. Lewis-Clark, 6 p.m.

Saturday

Dallas Baptist vs. Lewis-Clark, noon

(if Dallas Baptist wins Friday)