CSN defeats Iowa Western 12-7 in Junior College World Series

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. -- Bryce Harper went 3-for-5 with two home runs and eight RBIs to help the College of Southern Nevada to a 12-7 victory over Iowa Western in the third round of the Junior College World Series.

Harper hit a line drive over the wall in right-center field in the third inning, then a towering fly ball over the left-field wall in the sixth. He also hit a game-tying, two-run double to left in the fifth inning.

The freshman phenom, probably the top pick in next week's Major League Baseball draft, scored three runs for the third straight game.

The Coyotes also got a masterful relief effort from pitcher Kenny McDowall.

McDowall entered with CSN down 5-3 in the third inning and got out of a jam by inducing a double-play ball. He went the rest of the way, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings.

Trent Cook and Scott Dysinger also had three hits for the Coyotes.

CSN will play San Jacinto (Texas), the only other team left in the winners' bracket, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Score by innings

CSN 003 035 001-12 13 3

Iowa Western 212 000 200-7 10 1

Iowa Western's Ivan Bartle led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off College of Southern Nevada starter Joe Robinson, and the Revers added a run off two errors to grab a 2-0 lead Tuesday in the third round of the Junior College World Series.

Daniel Higa's errant throw to first base allowed Brandon Bass to reach base with no outs in the inning. Bass later scored on a ground ball to second base that Scott Dysinger was unable to field.

The Coyotes were held scoreless in the first after scoring in every inning of Monday's 18-1 victory over Faulkner (Ala.) State.

After a leadoff single by Dysinger, Gabe Weidenaar and Bryce Harper struck out swinging and Trent Cook lined to first on a 3-0 pitch.

Dysinger stole second during Cook's at-bat but was stranded.

CSN failed to capitalize on a leadoff single for the second straight inning, and Iowa Western tacked on another run to extend its lead over the Coyotes to 3-0 after two innings.

Adam Lavelle drove in Tanner Moore on a ground-out for the Revers.

Trevor Kirk singled but was thrown out trying to steal second for the Coyotes.

CSN freshman phenom Bryce Harper gave the Suplizio Field fans what they came to see with a frozen rope, three-run homer to tie the score with Iowa Western at 3 in the third inning.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Anthony Bemboom belted a two-run homer to put the Revers back ahead 5-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Daniel Higa and Scott Dysinger reached base on walks before Harper drilled the first pitch he saw just over the right-center field wall, igniting the crowd assembled to watch the projected top pick in next week's Major League Baseball draft.

Kenny McDowall has taken over on the mound for the Coyotes after Joe Robinson allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Kenny McDowall has come in to settle things down for CSN, but the Coyotes still trail Iowa Western 5-3 after four innings.

After inducing a double play to end the third inning in relief of Joe Robinson, McDowall struck out the side in order in the fourth.

CSN sent just three batters to the plate in the top of the inning, though Trevor Kirk singled. He was thrown out trying to advance to second on a great throw by right fielder Adam Lavelle after a Marvin Campbell foul-out.

Bryce Harper tied the game with a two-run double to left field and scored the go-ahead run for CSN on a single by Trent Cook as the Coyotes grabbed a 6-5 lead over Iowa Western after five innings.

Harper, 2-for-3 with five RBIs, didn't exactly crush the ball on his double, as he lifted a high fly ball to left field that Tanner Moore lost in the lights.

Kenny McDowall continued his strong relief appearance for the Coyotes, allowing just a walk to the Revers in the bottom of the fifth. He got some help from a diving catch by Trevor Kirk in center field to end the inning.

Bryce Harper hit his second home run to help CSN extend its lead over Iowa Western to 11-5 after six innings.

Harper's second blast, a towering opposite-field shot into the night sky of Grand Junction that might have landed somewhere on the other side of Aspen, made him 3-for-4 with eight RBIs.

Scott Dysinger added an RBI single and Tomo Delp scored on an error in the five-run rally.

Kenny McDowall again set the Reivers down in order in the bottom of the sixth.

Iowa Western opened the seventh inning with three straight singles and scored two runs to chip away at CSN's lead, which stands at 11-7.

The two runs were the first allowed by Kenny McDowall after taking over with one out in the third inning.

The Coyotes were set down in order in the top of the inning.

Kenny McDowall continues to cruise on the mound for CSN, as the Coyotes have an 11-7 lead after eight innings against Iowa Western.

McDowall entered in the fifth with the Coyotes trailing 5-3 and got out of a jam by inducing a double-play ball.

The right-hander has worked 5 2/3 innings since, allowing just two runs on five hits as CSN rallied.

The Coyotes got a man on base in the top of the eighth, but left him stranded when Bryce Harper grounded out weakly to first.

Trent Cook hit a long solo home run to right-center in the ninth inning to cap the scoring for CSN in a 12-7 victory over Iowa Western.

Kenny McDowall continued his masterful relief effort, as the only Iowa Western runner to reach in the ninth did so on an error.