GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Trailing 9-3 in the 8^th inning, Johnson County strung together two big inning, capped by a walk off home run by Ashton Hartwig, giving the Cavaliers a 10-9 victory in game 18 of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.

Midland (52-12, 3-2 JUCO) struck quickly, scoring three runs in the first inning on RBI doubles from Dylon Myrow and Bammer Maes before Caleb Eagar launched a two-run homer. Eagar added a solo shot in the third and finished with two home runs and four RBIs.

Johnson County (66-3, 4-0 JUCO) cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second on a pair of unearned runs, but Midland responded with a four-run fourth inning. Maes delivered a two-run double and Eagar followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 8-2.

The Cavaliers chipped away with a solo homer from Lukas Wilson in the fifth and mounted a comeback in the eighth, scoring three runs on RBI hits from Isaac Pamaran and Wilson to pull within 9-6. Midland added an insurance run in the eighth on a solo homer by Cole Neatherlin.

Trailing by three entering the ninth, Johnson County completed the comeback. Consecutive singles from Colin Coonradt, Boston Bruce, and Briggs Roe produced one run before Ashton Hartwig delivered the decisive blow, crushing a three-run home run to right field to give the Cavaliers a walk-off 10-9 victory.

Hartwig finished with four RBIs, while Pamaran and Wilson each drove in multiple runs during Johnson County’s late surge. Midland outhit the Cavaliers 13-11 but was unable to hold its advantage as Johnson County remained unbeaten in tournament play.
 
Johnson County advances to tomorrow night’s National Championship game vs. Blinn.