Jamestown took down Bellevue (Neb.) in the Super Plains Regional

May 17, 2008

JAMESTOWN, N.D. - Jamestown (N.D.) College put together a 12-6 win in the deciding game of the Plains Super Regional to defeat Bellevue (Neb.) University on Thursday evening (May 16). The win sends JC to the NAIA World Series for the first time since 2004.

After winning the opening game, 6-5, Bellevue forced the Jimmies to game 3 by winning game 2 by a 16-7 score.

In game 2, Bellevue knocked Jimmie starter Graham Campbell out of the game in the 5th inning. Greg Doyle pitched in relief. Campbell and Doyle combined to give up 15 hits and hit 9 batters. Bellevue had a 12-1 lead before the Jimmies regrouped.

Ben Cairns hit a solo home run in the 4th and added a 2-run homer in the fifth to bring the Jimmies within 12-7. While the Jimmies couldn't sustain the rally, it set the tone for the deciding game.

The Jimmies opened game 3 with three runs in the top of the first inning. Miles Johnson was hit by pitch to open the game. Cam McLachlan walked to put runners on first and second, Jordan Dusanj hit a liner up the middle. Errors on the 2nd baseman and right fielder scored courtesy runner Byron Wong. Consecutive singles by Jeremy Burgard and Dave Sauter scored McLachlan and Dusanj for the early lead.

In all the Jimmies put together 17 hits, 16 of them singles. Johnson reached base in all six of his at-bats, going 2-for-2 with 2 RBI on a single in the 8th. McLachlan had 3 hits and 2 RBI. Burgard also had 3 hits. Ben Cairns, Sauter and Bryan Renfrow each had 2 hits in the effort.

Phil Curtis (So., Edmonton, AB) pitched into the 6th inning giving up three solo homers, two to Nick Damas and one to Matt Anderson. In the 6th, he loaded the bases on two walks and a double to the left field wall. Alex Kreis (Fr., Grand Forks, ND) came on in relief. Three runs would score to bring Bellevue within 7-6, but Kreis shut down the Bruins for the rest of the game. He had 3 strikeouts, gave up 1 hit, and 1 walk in his first save of the season.

The win sends the Jimmies to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho starting May 23.