KINGSPORT, Tenn. - A three-run, sixth-inning rally provided enough firepower to propel top-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan to a 6-1 win over No. 3 seed St. Thomas (38-22) Friday. With the victory, Tennessee Wesleyan (48-13) wins the Kingsport Bracket of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round and advances to the Avista-NAIA World Series.
 
St. Thomas drew first blood in the third when Michael Centeno led off with a double and scored on Steven Fischer's single. Tennessee Wesleyan tied the game in the bottom of the frame, then added three runs in the sixth and insurance runs in the seventh and eighth.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan received solid pitching through the game from starter Chris Washington and relievers Danny Guido and Ryan Hartman. Washington lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Guido picked up the win, improving to 3-1 on the year as he tossed 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball. He surrendered only one hit and no walks with one strikeout. Hartman threw the ninth inning, giving up only a double.
 
STU's starter Erne Valdes went five innings on short rest, allowing three runs on just three hits, while striking out five and walking three.  Brandon Valentin relieved Valdes in the sixth inning, then Alex Viera came in to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings.
 
Chevis Hoover led the Bulldogs at the plate in going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. He and Malik Stephens were the only ones with multiple hits for Tennessee Wesleyan with Stephens finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and a run scored.  Paolo Montezuma added a solo home run.
 
St. Thomas was limited to six hits with Fischer leading the way as he finished 2-for-4 with a RBI.  Jose Gomez, Oscar Aguirre, Oscar Rodriguez and German Morales, along with Centeno, also registered base hits.