Spokane Holds Off Tacoma 6-5 to Earn Spot on Championship Monday

LONGVIEW, Wash. - The Spokane Sasquatch held off a late rally by Tacoma to earn a spot on the championship day with a 6-5 win at the 2025 NWAC Baseball Championship on Sunday at David Story Field.

Already with two late inning comeback wins in the tournament, the Titans attempted a third on Sunday against Spokane, but the Sasquatch shut the door in the ninth inning. Down 6-3 entering the ninth, the Titans brought two runs across and had the tying run at third base. Spokane relief pitcher Tyler Alm induced a fly out to center to end the game and advance the Sasquatch to the final day of the tournament.

Tacoma started hot in the first inning as Amari Goodfello had a one-out two-run single to give the Titans an early 2-0 lead. Over the next four innings it was mostly all Spokane as they outscored Tacoma 6-1.

The Sasquatch first got on the board as Cooper Davis brought home Drew Stevens on an RBI triple. Davis scored one batter later on Cole Krepcik's RBI single to tie the game 2-2.

Spokane took its first lead in the third as they were able to load the bases on three-straight walks. With two outs, Chase Edwards scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2. Jalen King hit an RBI single in the fourth to bring home Conner Dailey. Edwards then singled King home after he stole a base to give the Sasquatch a 5-2 advantage.

Tacoma answered in the top of the fifth with one run as Chase Cretti hit a sacrifice fly to score Kaleb McNeely. Spokane didn't waste time getting that run back as Davis had his second RBI of the game, scoring Pedro Quero with two outs to extend their lead back to three runs at 6-3.

After three scoreless innings, Tacoma put on another late rally in the ninth. Isaiah Afework started things with a one-out walk, followed by a single by McNeely and an RBI double by Goodfello. After a hit batter and a strikeout, Cretti drove in McNeely with a two-out single to put Tacoma within one run before Alm got out of the jam.

For Spokane, King, Edwards, Quero and Davis led the team with two hits apiece. Making just his third start of the year, Nathan Fizpatrick gave his team a chance to win with 5.2 innings and three runs allowed. Braiden Boyd was solid in relief allowing two runs in 2.2 innings as both were inherited runners. Alm earned the save as he recorded the final two outs.

Tacoma's Conor Beard made the start, allowing three runs in three innings. Nic Lewandowski pitched the final five innings, allowing three runs. Logan Shepherd led all players with three hits for the Titans while Goodfellow and Afework each had two.

Despite the loss, Tacoma will still play for the championship on Monday at 3:35 p.m. They will play the winning team of the Spokane vs. Linn-Benton matchup, which begins at 12 p.m.