GRAND FORKS, N.D. – After Texas-Pan American tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth, Houston Baptist senior first baseman Beau Warren lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning as the third-seeded Huskies escaped with a 6-5 victory over the sixth-seeded Broncs in the first round of the Great West Conference Tournament Tuesday afternoon at Kraft Field.

Warren also hit a home run in the game, giving him three RBIs on the day. Junior catcher Asai Adame went 2-for-4 with a double for the Huskies (19-38), junior leftfielder Luke Clements also doubled, while junior shortstop Collin Hetzler scored the winning run and freshman third baseman Tanner Kalina drove in a run.

Angel Ibanez went 3-for-4 with a double and scored three times for the Broncs (21-30), while Mike McCarthy went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Vincent Mejia doubled, drove in a run and scored one.

Junior righthander Dalton Schafer did not factor into the decision despite a solid effort, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out five in 6 2/3 innings for HBU. Senior righthander Stephen Nikonchik (4-4) blew the save, but picked up the win, giving up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Arnold Franco also made a strong start, allowing five runs, only two earned, on eight hits and striking out seven in 7 2/3, but also took a no-decision. Cody Plunk (2-6) took the loss, allowing one run on one hit and walking two in one inning of relief.

In the bottom of the ninth, Hetzler lined a leadoff single to left-center, just over the glove of a leaping Brandon Roush at shortstop. Junior rightfielder Kolby Arnst laid down a sacrifice bunt, then the Broncs' intentionally walked junior designated hitter Robbie Buller. Sophomore centerfielder Jake Gonzalez walked to load the bases after an eight-pitch at-bat, then Warren lifted a fly ball to right, just deep enough for Hetzler to slide home ahead of the throw with the winning run.

HBU led 5-3 going into the top of the ninth, and Nikonchik got the first two batters to fly out, but Ibanez singled up the middle. Mejia walked, then Roger Bernal singled up the middle to cut the lead to one. Andy Fortuna came in to pinch run for Mejia at second, and McCarthy singled to center to tie the game, 5-5, before Alex Carnall flied out to end the rally.

Schafer struggled to find his command early as he walked Ibanez on four pitches to lead off the game, then allowed him to advance to second on a wild pitch. Mejia also walked, and Bernal laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Schafer's throw to first was wide, allowing the Broncs to score the game's first run. McCarthy's infield single drove in another run, and Carnall sacrificed the runners to second and third for the first out. Schafer then struck out Iradier Hernandez and Adrian De La Rosa flied out to get out of the jam.

Clements led off the Huskies' half of the first with a double to right, and Hetzler moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt, but Arnst struck out and Buller grounded out to end the threat.

Back-to-back two-out doubles to left in the second inning by Ibanez and Mejia extended UTPA's lead to 3-0.

In the bottom of the second, Gonzalez reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, and Warren followed by blasting a two-run home run to left. Arnst reached on an infield single to lead off the third, Buller popped up to second, then Gonzalez was hit by a pitch. Warren struck out for the second out, but Kalina smacked a line drive into right-center to tie the game, 3-3.

After allowing a two-out single to Hernandez in the third, Schafer settled into a groove, retiring the next 11 UTPA batters he faced, and needed only five pitches to retire the Broncs in order in the sixth.

Buller walked to lead off the fifth, and Gonzalez followed with a single through the left side. Gonzalez was erased at second on a ground ball by Warren, then Warren was picked off by the catcher at first base for the second out. Kalina ripped a line drive off the glove of Mejia at third, which was ruled an error, but Buller came home to give the Huskies their first lead, 4-3.

Bacak was hit by a pitch with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, then Adame doubled to left-center and a fielding error on the leftfielder allowed Bacak to come all the way around for what proved to be a much-needed insurance run.