It took an inning and a half, but Rust answered in the bottom of the third inning to plate two runs and take a 2-1 lead. Jesse Burton hit a one-out single to start the rally for Rust. Victor Clay singled to put runners on the corners and then Tremaine Callaway made it three singles in a row, this one resulting with a RBI, tying the game at 1-1. The third inning was definitely trending in favor of Rust as even when Talladega recorded an out, Rust found a way to score. Mark Hubbard struck out, but Rust was attempting a double steal. The throw from the catcher got away from him, resulting in another run coming in on the error. Rust led 2-1 entering the fourth inning.  

The middle third of the game had multiple scoring opportunities, but both defenses were up to the task as it remained a 2-1 game in favor of Rust despite seven runners left on base between the two teams.

Talladega retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning with a pair of runs. The first three batters reached base, starting with a lead-off single by Isaac Guzman, the followed by a walk and a bunt single by Rafael Diaz. That set up Talladega’s scoring for the frame. Jose Santiago hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2, then Fernandez scored to make it 3-2 after Rust committed an error on Miguel Oropeza’s hit towards the shortstop. Talladega had a chance to pad their lead further, but the Bearcats forced the Tornadoes to hit into an inning-ending double play to limit the damage to just two runs.  

 That stop was important as Rust came back to retake the lead with a pair of runs themselves in the bottom of the seventh. Strickland reached base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and the Bearcats moved the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt by Burton. The next batter, Clay, hit a double down the left field line to bring in the tying run and put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Later in the inning, Rust loaded the bases with two outs, looking to retake the lead. They did just that as Robinson put together a quality at-bat and drew a walk that brought in the go-ahead run and it was 4-3 after seven innings of play.  

The teams were scoreless in the eighth inning, setting up a do-or-die ninth inning for Talladega. The Tornadoes answered the call and tied the game in the ninth. Talladega led off the inning with a Guzman single and a walk drawn by Fernandez. Diaz then reached on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases with zero outs. Rust relief pitcher Jackson Bryant got Santiago to fly out, but it was deep enough to drive in the tying run. After Oropeza was intentionally walked to re-load the bases, Rust made another pitching change with Bonner stepping to the mound. The eventual hero got Venegas to hit into a double-play to end the inning with the score sitting at 4-4 entering the bottom of the ninth.  

In the bottom half of the inning, Rust loaded the bases with two outs following a walk and a pair of hit batsmen. Bonner then stepped up to the plate and delivered the walk-off hit, singling up the middle to bring in Callaway.  

Rust will play Edward Waters in the second round of the NAIA loser’s bracket with the winner earning the right to take on Florida Memorial in the NAIA bracket finals. The Rust and Edward Waters game begins at 12:30 p.m. CDT on Friday.  

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