Franklin dazzles as Tritons blank Sasquatch, 1-0

LONGVIEW -- The story of Thursday morning's NWAC Championship Tournament opener was sophomore Will Franklin. The righty hurled a gem, striking out eight, to lead Edmonds past East Region champion Spokane 1-0 at David Story Field. Franklin went the distance in a one-hit complete game shutout. In the fifth and seventh innings he came up clutch to fan Sasquatch batters with runners in scoring position to preserve the lead.

The only hit came in the seventh on a ball that was struck to the six-hole and didn't leave the infield. The Tritons played solid defense behind Franklin. Chris Rogers sac fly in the bottom of the second held up as the winning run. Snyder started the frame with a single to right; he advanced to second on a down angle read. Camden Gillespie had an infield single and Chanz Doughty also singled to load the bases for Rogers.

Watch Will Franklin's postgame interview | Watch Chris Rogers interview with the NWAC | Watch the final out

Sasquatch starter and WSU-commit Troy Shepard kept Spokane in the game and tossed a complete game himself, retiring the final 18 batters he faced.

Edmonds (26-18) advances in the winner's bracket and will square off with No. 2-ranked Tacoma (35-8-1) on Friday. Tacoma defeated Bellevue 3-1 in their first round game. The Tritons will likely face another tough bump in West Region 1st Teamer Isaac Evaniew. The sophomore right-hander was 7-0 in 11 starts with a 1.69 ERA/.99 WHIP. Evaniew sports the 2nd best K/9 in the NWAC at 13.65.

First pitch on Friday is set for 4:35 p.m.

Bracket