Paul Sudduth, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on Johnson’s bunt to snap a 3-3 tie. Two pitches later Johnson broke for second and as he was scampering back safely to first Kam Oschsner was able to steal home.

The win clinched a berth among the final four teams for the Bruins, who will play at 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Wednesday against either host Lewis-Clark State (53-12) or Western Oregon (41-18). Wednesday’s pairings will be announced later this evening.

Warner Southern scored single runs in each of the first three innings off Bellevue pitcher David McWatters. But, McWatters, who improved to 11-4, blanked the Royals on two hits over the final seven innings. He walked three and struck out 14, including two in the bottom of the 10^th inning.

Warner’s runs came on a first inning home run by Justin Turner, a second-inning single by Dusty Barber and a third inning sacrifice fly by Daniel Barnett, but Bellevue scored three runs in the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Oschner and Johnson to tie it. Johnson’s hit drove in two runs.

The teams then traded zeros until the 10^th when Bryan Dille reached on an error. Sudduth then bounced into a force play and Ochsner doubled down the left field line to set up the game-winning bunt by Johnson.

Ochsner and Johnson each had three hits as Bellevue outhit Warner Southern 12-7. Devin Butler and Barber each had two hits for Warner.

In Tuesday’s other loser-out game, Birmingham-Southern (52-11) eliminated Dallas Baptist, Tex. 9-1.

David McWatters and Tim Fisher
Josh O’Brien, Grant Lykins (7), Ben Ally (7) and Daniel Barnett.
W – McWatters (11-4). L – Ally (14-3).
HR – Warner, Justin Turner (16).
Time: 2:46. Attendance – 340.