KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Oscar Aguirre hit a game-winning home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and Alex Viera pitched 3.1 innings of shutout relief as no. 3 seed St. Thomas (36-20) defeated no. 2 seed Middle Georgia State (39-17) 2-1 at the Opening Round of the NAIA Baseball National Championship.  St. Thomas will now play the winner of Tuesday night's game between no. 1 seed Tennessee Wesleyan and no. 5 seed Rio Grande (Ohio) on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Hunter Wright Stadium.
 
Viera improved his record this season to 8-0, going 3.1 innings allowing no runs on four hits and stranding six Middle Georgia base runners.  For Aguirre, the home run was his team-leading ninth of the season.
 
After four and a half innings of scoreless play, St. Thomas struck first with a run in the bottom of the fifth.  German Morales led off with a single to center, then was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Centeno.  Steven Fischer then hit a ground ball to MGA's shortstop Bryce Todd who bobbled the ball.  Fischer beat out Todd's throw with a diving head-first slide which allowed Morales to reach third.  Cesar Ramirez then hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Morales for the go-ahead run.
 
The Knights responded with an RBI-single by Andy Mocahbee in the top of the sixth to tie the game at one run a piece.
 
Erne Valdes had an excellent outing as the Bobcats' starting pitcher.  Valdes went 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits, while striking out four and walking three.  Viera came in to relieve Valdes in the top of the sixth and stranded two base runners to end the inning on a force out. 
 
In the top of the seventh and Viera on the mound, the Knights threatened again with runners on second and third.  Jesus Monserrat hit a single up the middle, but left fielder Oscar Rodriguez gunned down MGA's Blake Chaney at the plate with Fischer making the tag for the third out.
 
The Bobcats were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh and Viera stranded another runner in the next inning as the score remained tied heading into the bottom of the eighth.  After two quick outs to start the inning, Aguirre lifted a 0-1 pitch over the left field fence for the game-winning home run.
 
Viera came in to finish off the win in the top of the ninth and took care of the first two batters he faced.  The third and final out came on a deep fly ball to left-center fielded by Gomez for the win.
 
The five-team, double-elimination Opening Round tournament continues Wednesday. STU will face either Tennessee Wesleyan or Rio Grande (Ohio) at 2:30 p.m. in Kingsport, Tenn.  The winner of the Kingsport Opening Round will advance to the Avista-NAIA World Series to be held May 27 – June 3 in Lewiston, Idaho.