No. 1 Reinhardt tops No. 3 Point Park, 13-7, in Waleska Bracket

WALESKA, Ga. -- In a matchup of the two undefeated teams left in the Waleska Bracket, No. 1 Reinhardt (Ga.) got the best of No. 3 Point Park (Pa.) on Tuesday in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round.

The Eagles had three big innings, scoring six in the fifth, five in the seventh, and three in the eighth en route to a 15-7 victory.

Following the loss, Point Park drops to 42-14 as they fall into the consolation bracket where they will meet No. 4 Keiser (Fla.) in an elimination game on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.

The winner of the Point Park-Keiser matchup will take on Reinhardt in the first championship game of the Waleska Bracket at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

The Pioneers got the scoring started with two runs on three hits in the third. Carlos Burroughs and Jared Campbell each had an RBI single as Point Park jumped to an early 2-0 advantage.

The Eagles, who improved to 40-16 with the win, got a run back in the fourth before exploding in the fifth, scoring six runs on four hits including a three-run home run off the bat of Dylan Lewis.

Point Park got a solo home run from Isaac Santana in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-3, but the Eagles answered with a five-spot in the top of the seventh. Tucker Zdunich hit a three-run home run before Jamel Rookard added a two-run double pushing the lead to 12-3.

The Pioneers responded in the bottom of the seventh, where they scored four runs on four hits to cut the deficit to 12-7. Jordan Campbell hit a solo home run, and Michali Brito added a two-run single before Eddie Javier Jr. capped the inning with an RBI double.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Reinhardt had one more big inning in them. Nash Crowell hit a two-run home run and Matty Maurer had a sacrifice fly in a three-run eighth as Reinhardt would cruise to the 15-7 victory.

Point Park would use six different arms in the loss with Ethan Parker being pinned with the loss. He pitched four innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

His counterpart, Ben Medley picked up the win, allowing three runs on five hits in his six innings of work.