Tacoma Stuns Spokane with 4 Runs in 9th to Win 4-2 in Game 1 of 2025 NWAC Baseball Championship

LONGVIEW, Wash. - The No. 2 Tacoma Titans rallied in the ninth inning with four runs to defeat No. 1 Spokane 4-2 in the opening game of the 2025 NWAC Baseball Championship at David Story Field on the campus of Lower Columbia College.

The West Region No. 2 seeded Titans were held to just one hit through eight innings by Spokane starting pitcher Zach Bowman, who was dealing. In the top of the ninth, Tacoma's first five runners got aboard, capped by a two-run single by first baseman Logan Shepherd to put the Titans ahead 3-2.

After a scoreless first three innings, the Sasquatch scored the first runs with two in the bottom of the fourth. Pedro Quero drove in the first run on an RBI single, while Cooper Davis brought in another run on a fielders' choice.

Atticus Manning earned the win in relief for the Titans as he pitched two scoreless innings. Starter Max Goldberg was strong for Tacoma, pitching seven innings with just earned allowed on six hits and one walk. Shepherd had one of the big hits for the Titans. Jailon Goodfellow got the rally started with a single and he was followed up by a pinch-hit double by Isaiah Afework who was making his first plate appearance in a month due to injury.

Reese Vassar stood out for Spokane with a 2-for-5 game, scoring a run and playing strong defense at shortstop. Both defenses were tested often with just four total strikeouts between the teams. Bowman was lights out for eight innings with just two baserunners allowed before the ninth inning, recording four strikeouts.

The Titans continued their comeback ways as they defeated Edmonds in the Super Regional with four runs in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off.

Tacoma will move to the winner's bracket where they will next face the winner of Umpqua vs. Everett on Friday at 4:35 p.m. Spokane moves to the loser's bracket and will take on the loser of Umpqua vs. Everett on Friday at 9:35 a.m.