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Bulldogs still have lots of bite

May 31—Heading into Saturday's Avista NAIA World Series baseball title game at Harris Field, many observers believed the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs would be on their last legs after coming through a four-hour-plus epic the previous night that stretched deep into the a.m. hours.

Eighth-seeded TWU would have been considered an underdog against No. 1 Taylor (Ind.) under normal circumstances, let alone in the position of taking the field on a 16-hour turnover after a topsy-turvy epic while the Trojans entered with a day of rest to their benefit. This, however, was the Series of surprises all along, and its finale did not let up.

Tennessee Wesleyan exploded for a 21-3 rout of the Trojans, achieving the greatest margin of victory in NAIA national championship history.

"When you don't believe in the Puppies, that's when the Puppies come out," said TWU leadoff hitter Allan Gil Fernandez, who batted 4-for-5 on the day with a home run before receiving the tournament MVP award. "This has been us all year. When people see us as the underdog, when they don't think we'll do it, that's when we do it."

It was the third national title in program history, and in the career of coach Billy Berry.

"This team's relentless, man," Berry said. "This team's relentless; it's focused; it's determined; it doesn't give in. There was only one team that was going to be built for the path that we had to go, and God built this team to do that."

How it happened

After a shaky showing from the mound in its 16-14 marathon against William Carey the previous night, Tennessee Wesleyan (49-15) brought back McGwire Taylor, a standout from earlier outings in the Series, as its starting pitcher. Taylor racked up six strikeouts and kept Taylor (56-7) thoroughly in check for the first three innings, extending his Series total to more than 11 innings pitched without conceding a run before the Trojans finally got on the board in the fourth.

"Any time you can go put up zeroes in the postseason, it's hard to top that," Taylor said. "Especially in a situation like this."

Relieving Taylor in the fourth inning was Cameron Goffar, who recorded his 10th and most critical pitching win of the season.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs, who had scored at least one run in every inning of their Friday-night-to-early-Saturday-morning epic, continued to showcase outstanding offensive depth and consistency.

Kolton Reynolds delivered a rare 5-for-5 batting performance with five RBI, going on to cross home plate himself all five times.

"Definitely not," Reynolds replied when asked if he had ever enjoyed a 5-for-5 day before. Adding to his big day, the senior — who had made one of the best catches of the tournament to secure the second out in the ninth inning against William Carey — received the Golden Glove award following Saturday's title game.

Driving in three more runs apiece were Gil Fernandez, David Ballenilla and Brayan Espinoza — who notched four hits including a double and home run of his own.

"When the Puppies are hot, the Puppies are hot," Gil Fernandez said. "You cannot stop us."

The seven-year itch

Tennessee Wesleyan's previous national victories had come in 2012 and 2019, with Saturday's result continuing an apparent seven-year cycle. Players confirmed that they had been aware of the good omen heading into this year's championship.

"I didn't even know it was a thing, and then all of a sudden everybody started talking about it," Berry said. "I'll play the lottery tonight; I'll play three 7s, I guess."

Asked whether more of the same should be expected from his team in 2033, Berry responded, "I hope it doesn't take that long."

In the meantime, however, he was happy to celebrate with his players, and to let them rest.

"You've only seen this group for two weeks," he said. "We've seen this group for 60 games, so we knew what they were capable of. This group's got no quit in it. This group's got nothing but fight in it, and it showed it tonight."

Taylor 000 120 000— 3 7 5

Tennessee Wesleyan 043 400 46x—21 22 1

Lewis, Gongwer (2), Hunt, Frady (7), Fine (7), Doran (8), Hershberger (8), Klunke (8), Osbourne (8) and Schrock, Wu (7); Taylor, Goffar (5), Brumley (9) and Teel, Tolson (8). W — Goffar; L — Lewis.

Taylor hits — Kennedy 2, Sutter (2B), Manning (2B), Malott (2B), Frickel (HR), Gladd.

Tennessee Wesleyan hits — Reynolds 5, Espinoza 4 (HR, 2B), Gil Fernandez 4 (HR), Bosque, Ballenilla 3 (2B), Wright 2, Teel, Escoto 2.

A — 2,219.

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