Cody Hamlin scattered seven hits and struck out 10 and Joseph Crunkilton homered as Western Nevada College rallied for a 3-1 victory over Salt Lake in the Region 18 baseball tournament on Thursday in Henderson.
The victory sends the Wildcats (39-18) into a winners’ bracket matchup with tournament host College of Southern Nevada, which routed College of Southern Idaho 10-1, at noon Friday.
The teams quickly settled into a fast-paced pitchers’ duel between Hamlin and Brady Corless.
Defending region champion Salt Lake broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning by scratching across its only run. Zach Watts turned a full-count offering by Hamlin into a triple that scored Robert Grilli.
An inning later, the Wildcats rallied for their three runs and then rode the arm of Hamlin the rest of the way. The big blow in the comeback was a two-run homer off the bat of Crunkilton. Prior to the blast, Christian Stolo knocked in Tony Roque with a double to right-center field.
Hamlin was particularly tough over the final four innings, allowing just one baserunner with four strikeouts.
Going into the fifth, Corless had limited the Wildcats to two hits.
Hitting back to back, Crunkilton and Conor Harber each had two hits off Corless, who left after seven innings with a five-hitter.
Something will have to give in the season series between WNC and CSN on Friday. The two teams have split their eight games, winning two at home and two on the road.
First pitch is at noon. The winner will advance to Saturday’s noon championship round, while the loser must come back and play an elimination game at 7 p.m. Friday.