Dunlap Doesn’t Let Northridge Go South Again

Northridge’s pitching ace couldn’t do it Tuesday on the mound, but he got it done Wednesday at the plate.

Nathaniel Dunlap, who suffered his first loss of the season in the Junior League World Series opener against South Lake Charles, La., came up with a second-inning single to drive in two runs and spur Northridge to a 3-1 victory over South Point, Ohio.

South Point (15-4) was ousted in the double-elimination tournament while Northridge (17-3) moved on to a losers-bracket game today against Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, which lost to Canada,12-11.

“A win is a win is a win,” Northridge Manager Tim Cunningham said.

“If we keep getting pitching and the defense, we’ll be OK, but the hitting needs to improve. We can’t lose the other two.”

Dunlap’s single, which came in the second inning with the bases full, was just about all the offense Northridge could generate despite collecting seven hits off Brian Stephens (4-2).

Matt Fisher drove in the other run with a grounder earlier in the inning when David Teraoka beat the throw to home plate.

Peter Tuber (5-1) pitched 6 1/3 innings for Northridge, striking out five, allowing six hits and walking four.

Kameron Loe got the save, stranding runners at second and third by striking out the final two batters.