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ABILENE, Texas – Behind the arm of Evan Bronson and the bat of Dylan Early, the Trinity Tigers knocked off No. 2 seed George Fox University on the first day of the NCAA Division III West Region Baseball Championships Wednesday at Walt Driggers Field. Bronson pitched a complete-game 6-hitter, Early homered twice, and the Tigers took an 8-1 victory.

Bronson was masterful striking out 10 and allowing just one run in his fifth complete game of the season. His only blemish came in the sixth inning when he allowed three straight runners to reach base. Dan Winterstein singled home Matt Wyckoff for the Bruins’ only run. However, Trinity turned a double play the next batter and Jason Brown struck out swinging to end any further damage.

Early, who hadn’t homered all season hit a 2-run homer in the second and added insurance in the eighth with another 2-run shot. The left-hander was hitting in the No. 8 spot and finished with four RBI on the day.

GFU starter Bick Bratney lasted just three innings and surrendered four runs (three earned) and Brady Rhodes pitched the remainder of the game for the Bruins allowing four runs (two earned) in the final six innings.

Bronson improved to 9-3 on the season and helped Trinity move to 33-13 on the season. The Tigers will play the winner of the McMurry and Cal State-East Bay game Wednesday at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Bruins fell to 28-13 on the season and face elimination Thursday at Noon against La Verne. La Verne fell to Chapman Wednesday, so the loser of the Thursday game will be sent packing.