For the second time in three seasons, Huntington University's baseball team is the class of the Mid-Central Conference.

The Foresters got outstanding pitching performances from starter Mitch Bowers and reliever Ethan Tribolet, both of whom threw on short rest, to top host Indiana Wesleyan University 3-2 in Wednesday night's championship game.

With the win, Huntington advances to 2010 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Roundon Tuesday, May 18. The Foresters will find out their destination later today.

Due to their unbeaten record through two days at the MCC Tournament, Huntington had to be beaten twice by Indiana Wesleyan. Despite that fact, Forester coach Mike Frame said his team treated game one like it was the only game of the day.

"Our attitude as soon as we advanced on Tuesday was that we were coming over here to play one game (on Wednesday)," said Frame, who now owns 12 MCC titles. "We didn't want to mess around. Our plan was to throw Bowers four innings, Tribolet four innings and (Brian) Kirschbaum one inning. Mitch was so good that we let him throw a little more. He really stepped up and was fantastic."

Huntington, the No. 5 seed in the six-team MCC Tournament, came into the postseason hot, winning 12 of 15 ballgames, and the Foresters continued their run by storming through the tourney with a perfect 4-0 record to up their win streak to 10 games.

"It's very satisfying," said Frame. "We had some rough spots this season, but we kind of came together three weeks ago and starting playing well. It's just very, very satisfying."

After getting solid starts from Bowers and Tribolet - the team's top two arms - in a pair of opening-round wins on Monday, Huntington turned to those two again on Wednesday. They answered the bell.

Tossing on just one day's rest, Bowers limited Indiana Wesleyan to one run on five hits over the first 6 2-3 innings before passing the baton to Tribolet, who took it the rest of the way, firing one-hit ball over the final 2 1-3 frames.

Two days after throwing a 116-pitch, complete-game gem in an 8-0 first-round win over Spring Arbor University, Bowers showed little effects early on, holding IWU without a hit for the first three innings before allowing a bunt single in the fourth inning and a clean hit in the fifth.

Bowers (10-3) admitted that in all the scenarios he played out in his head before the game, none of them had him throwing as well as he did.

"I was hoping to throw three innings at the maximum, nowhere close to six," he said. "I think it was just being with the team. We were all so together and so into it this whole week. I was jacked up myself. I just took it one pitch at a time and gave it everything I had."

Huntington's offense came from an unlikely source.  Josh Lanphier, a back-up catcher who was in the lineup as the designated hitter because starting outfielder Ryan Shell was out with an illness, totaled two hits and drove in the first run of the game to give Huntington the upper hand.

After Travis Frantz reached on an error and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Lanphier capitalized with a two-out single to push the Foresters in front 1-0 in the top of the fourth.

Huntington (31-20) extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run sixth. Frantz led off with a single, stole second and advanced the third on a passed ball. Eric Harpring, Tuesday's hero in a 10-9 win over IWU, ripped a double to left to plate Frantz. Justin Branock followed with a perfectly executed slash-bunt play, pulling back a bunt attempt and hitting a grounder up the middle, to bring home Harpring.

Indiana Wesleyan (26-35), who pulled off two upsets over top-seeded Taylor University to get to the championship, threatened for the first time in its half of the sixth.  The Wildcats pieced together two straight singles and a groundout to put runners at second with third with two away. With the table set, Derek Freds came through, smacking a two-run double to plate both runners and pull Indiana Wesleyan within 3-2.

Bowers retired the first two batters of the seventh before giving way to Tribolet, who was ready when called upon after throwing 117 pitches and working into the eighth inning of Monday night's 8-4 win over Bethel College.

The former Huntington North Viking, and owner of a team-best 3.44 ERA, got the final out of the seventh and struck out two on his way to a 1-2-3 eighth.

Needing a run in the ninth to stay alive, Indiana Wesleyan laced a leadoff single and, after Tribolet induced a fly out, stole second base to put the tying run in scoring position. Tribolet put his foot down there, getting a fly out and a game-ending groundout to clinch the title for the Foresters.

"The coaches told me to just take it pitch by pitch," Tribolet said. "So that's what I kept telling myself. I had to stay under control and keep my composure."

The final out - a dribbler to second baseman Chris Menzie - set off a wild dog pile celebration that took place right in front of the mound and centered directly on top of Tribolet and battery mate Branock.

"There's nothing like it," Tribolet said. "You can't replace that feeling with anything else. It's awesome; definitely a sense of accomplishment."

Bowers has now won six starts in a row, teaming with Tribolet, winner of his last four starts, to form a potent one-two combo atop the rotation.  Lanphier, Frantz and Eric Schultz finished the game with two hits apiece. Lanphier, Harpring and Branock all had one RBI each.

Article provided by Austan Kas, The  Herald Press