Palmyra’s Kroeger, Quincy’s Harbin help Maryville win Midwest Regional opener

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Noah Harbin wasn’t letting the lead slip away twice.

The Quincy High School graduate was summoned from the bullpen with one out in the eighth inning Thursday and the Maryville University baseball team clinging to a one-run lead against Grand Valley State in the NCAA Midwest Regional at Greyhound Park.

A pair of ground balls — one for an out, the other for an infield single — allowed the Lakers to tie the game at 5. Harbin got out of the inning without further damage, and the Saints responded by scoring three times in the bottom of the frame on Elias Stevens’ two-out, three-run homer.

Harbin proceeded to retire the Lakers in order in the top of the ninth, preserving an 8-5 victory and pushing the third-seeded Saints into the winner’s bracket.

Maryville (39-17) will face seventh-seeded Trevecca Nazarene at 2 p.m. Friday. Trevecca upset No. 2-seeded Indianapolis 16-4 in the regional opener.

Palmyra product Jacob Kroeger, the left-handed starter who was named a first-team All-Midwest Region selection, allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked none, leaving the game with a 5-2 lead.

Maryville reliever Phillip Reinhardt struggled, allowing three runs, three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Harbin followed Reinhardt and earned his third victory of the season.