Diego Ibarra pitched a gem on Day 2 of the NAIA tournament and Oklahoma Wesleyan continued its winning ways.
The Eagles took down the region’s host, Belhaven (Miss.), 4-2, and are one win away from advancing to the NAIA World Series.
Ibarra picked up his 11th win of the season, in just 13 starts, by scattering six hits through eight innings and giving up only one earned run.
OKWU used a two-out rally in the fifth to get back into the game. Avery Flores singled and Jeff Butler reached base being hit by a pitch. Then Jose Ruiz’s only hit of the game sent the two base runners home and the Eagles took a 2-1 lead.
Belhaven tied the game, 2-2, in the seventh, but the Eagles got RBIs from Trae Bobo and Giancarlo Sirani in the eighth to go up by two.
C.J. Gregory picked up his second save in as many nights, and 11th on the year.