LEWISTON, Idaho – (Box Score) For the third time at the 2016 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series it took extra innings to decide a winner, as No. 1 Faulkner (Ala.) eliminated No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan, 4-3, in 11 innings Wednesday evening at Harris Field.

With the win, Faulkner continues its quest for a second national championship tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. PDT. The Eagles opponent is dependent on what happens in tonight’s late game featuring No. 4 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and No. 3 Bellevue (Neb.).

With two outs and runners on first and second, Deivy Palmeiro hit a grounder to the Tennessee Wesleyan third baseman, who first bobbled and then threw the ball away. The error scored the runner from second, who had crossed third base before it bounced into the Bulldogs’ dugout.

Christian Torres (11-2), who took a no decision in his first appearance in the World Series, earned the win with 3.1 innings of scoreless, hitless relief.

Offensively, five Faulkner hitters tallied at least two hits in the game, led by three by catcher Mario Amaral. The Eagles struggled through much of the game getting hits with runners on. Faulkner left 15 baserunners on to only four by Tennessee Wesleyan.

Tennessee Wesleyan drew first blood in its first at-bat, as Wardy Polanco blasted his second home run of the World Series to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. The homer is his 18th of the season.

Faulkner followed suit with a home run in the bottom of the second to knot the score at 1-1. Dennis Morton hit the big fly for the Eagles, marking the 16th time this season and first time at the World Series that the senior has homered.

Alfred Cruz broke the tie in the fifth with a solo home run to left field – his second of the World Series. Doubles by Malik Stephens and Polanco pushed Tennessee Wesleyan’s lead to 3-1 before the end of the inning.

With two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the eight, Onix Martinez poked a 3-2 pitch up the middle to drive in two and knot the game, 3-3. Martinez entered the at-bat 2-for-12 at the World Series, chose a perfect time to pick up his first RBI of the event.

Back-to-back singles to open the eighth by T.J. Condon and Mario Amaral put runners on first and second with no outs for the Eagles. Chase Morris bunted three pitches later and an errant throw by the Tennessee Wesleyan third baseman loaded the bags with no outs. Bulldog ace Ryan Hartman struck out the next two hitters before Martinez came through with the aforementioned single.

Faulkner threatened in the 10th when Dennis Morton opened the inning with a leadoff double into the right-center field gap – his 16th two-bagger of the year. However, the senior was stranded at second as the next three Eagles failed to hit it out of the infield.

Despite the no decision, Faulkner received a quality start from starting pitcher Victor Archie. The senior from Miami, Fla., was making his second career appearance at the World Series and first in 2016. Archie allowed three runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work. The inning total is the most for Archie since tossing five innings on March 15 against Cumberlands (Ky.).

Polanco, who ended the night 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI, was the top hitter for Tennessee Wesleyan.

Hartman (10-1) took the loss. The senior allowed six hits and one run in 3.2 innings of relief. Hartman had previously not lost since falling to Cumberland (Tenn.) on April 11, 15.

The loss eliminates Tennessee Wesleyan from this year’s World Series. The Bulldogs end the year with a 50-15 record.

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video streaming company, is broadcasting the first 15 games of the 2016 Avista-NAIA World Series. An All-World Series package can be purchased for $29.95, while a day pass is available for $9.95. For more information, visit www.NAIANetwork.com.

The Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination event hosted by Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). For more information on the 60th annual event, click HERE.