Idaho blew open a close game with a seven-run fourth inning
to ensure itself a spot in the Northwestern Regional semifinals and end winless
Alaska’s run in San Bernardino. Idaho and Montana, who each have one loss to
top-seeded Washington, will play for the No. 2 seed Wednesday.
Eleven batters came to the plate in the decisive fourth
Idaho entered with a two-run lead and left with a 9-0 advantage. Rhett Crane,
whose RBI single led to both third-inning runs for Idaho, had another RBI in a
fourth inning that included four hits and four walks.
Riley Way, who pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings and allowed
just one hit, ended the game in the fifth inning with his second RBI. Alex
Light was 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs for Idaho and Jake Driskill was 2
for 3 with an RBI.
