Baseball Closes Regular Season with Walk Off Win

Baseball went the distance in the regular season finale, winning in walk off fashion over Hastings, 7-6. The Tigers concluded the regular season with 31 wins.

The Broncos scored two runs in the first inning, the first on a bases-loaded walk and the second on a single. Doane came back with a run in the bottom of the inning as Logan Amick scored on a groundout by Johnny Vulcano.

In the second inning, Hastings scored two runs on a fielder's choice and error. Doane came back with two runs in the bottom of the second to cut the Bronco lead to 4-3. Taiyo Takahashi doubled to drive in Max Harris and Justin Nevells singled to plate Takahashi.

Hastings picked up a run in the sixth inning on a two-out double. Doane answered once again in the bottom of the inning on a Gerald Nix single to plate Justin Nevells and pull back within a run.

The Broncos scored a run on an error in the eighth inning to go up 6-4. The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single by Sam Kwapnioski.

The ninth inning opened with a leadoff single for Hastings. However, Ethan Merk was able to close the door and keep the game tied going into the bottom of the ninth. Carter Roth led off the bottom of the inning with a single and was pinch run for by Gage Ryba. Harris followed with a bunt single to move Ryba into scoring position. A popout and a fielder's choice left the Tigers with runners at the corners and two outs. Nix stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw into the right-center gap for a game-winning single as Ryba scored.

Broc Songster started for the Tigers, going 4.0 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out three. Cade Bridges threw 3.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits with a strikeout. Ethan Merk picked up the win, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

Doane had 15 hits in the game with three players collecting three hits apiece. Amick was 3-for-4 with a run scored and three stolen bases. Harris was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Nevells was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in while stealing two bases. Nix went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Next up for the Tigers will be the GPAC Tournament as they compete in the Morningside bracket as the No. 3 seed. Doane will take on Northwestern with the bracket being held in Yankton, S.D., as the Mustangs are without a home site this year.