Cretti's Bases-Clearing Triple Caps Tacoma's Comeback in 7-4 Win Over Linn-Benton

LONGVIEW, Wash. - The Tacoma Titans came back once again, this time from down 4-0 to defeat Linn-Benton 7-4 in game 11 of the 2025 NWAC Baseball Championship on Saturday night at David Story Field.

Down 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Chase Cretti hit a bases-clearing triple to give Tacoma its first lead of the game over the Roadrunners. The Titans had previously comeback from down 2-0 in the ninth in the first game of the tournament against Spokane and needed a walk-off in the super regionals against Edmonds last week. When being counted out in games, the Titans have continued to make the plays.

The rally in the eighth inning all began with two outs. E. Weichbrod started things with a single. Isaiah Afework and K. McKneely each drew a walk to load the bases. Then, J. Goodfello and Kaden Cretti had back-to-back RBI hit-by-pitches to cut the deficit to 4-3. That brought up Kaden's older brother Chase, who drove a ball to right centerfield that fell between the outfielders. With all three runners moving on contact, it cleared the bases for the Titans. Cretti then scored shortly after on a wild pitch to give TCC a 7-4 advantage.

Jake Rafferty pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the victory in relief. Rafferty threw three innings, allowing one run on three hits. He came into relief for starter Austin Crawford who threw six innings with three runs, one earned, allowed with two strikeouts.

Linn-Benton jumped out to the early lead with two runs in the first inning. A lead-off error started the inning for LBCC, with K. Lindstrom eventually scoring on an RBI groundout by A. Hazen. Jacob Dodge followed up with an RBI single to score Brayden Starr to make it 2-0 Linn-Benton.

After four innings without a run on either side, A Demianew hit a solo home run to left field to extend the Beaks' lead to 3-0. Connor Boyd added another run with an RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-0.

Tacoma started to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh on Chase Cretti's RBI single. Cretti finished with four RBI in the game.

Jake Von Lubken was strong in the start for the Roadrunners, pitching seven innings while allowing one run on six hits.

Tacoma becomes the lone unbeaten team in the tournament. They will take on Spokane on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Regardless of the result, Tacoma will play for the championship on Monday. If they defeat Spokane, they will have two opportunites to win the title against the winner of Linn-Benton vs. Umpqua. If Tacoma loses to Spokane, the Titans will then play in the if-game on Monday in a winner-take-all game against the other final remaining team.

Linn-Benton will next play Umpqua on Sunday at 12 p.m. in an elimination game. The winner will move to championship Monday, needing to win two games in a row to claim the title. The Roadrunners accomplished this feat on their way to the title in 2024.