BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - Now only one win away from the NCCAA World Series, Judson University held off Olivet Nazarene University, 3-2, for their 38^th win of the year. Judson never gave up the lead in the game and now has to defeat Olivet Nazarene just once to receive the automatic bid to the NCCAA World Series. Judson will face Olivet Nazarene on Saturday, May 14^th, at 12:30 p.m. in Bourbonnais, Ill.

Joe Huencke received his first win of the year going five innings and giving up just one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts. Kevin Carmody worked 1.1 innings and gave up two hits and one earned run. Ed Draper finished off Olivet Nazarene for his 10^th save of the year and second of the day getting the final two outs of the game with one being a strikeout.

Offensively, Judson had only six hits as Johnny Amann had two of them. Brian Brauer had one RBI for Judson.

Judson struck first in the third inning when Levi Pippenger came home on one of five Olivet Nazarene errors. Pippenger came home on an outfielder error off of an Amann hit.

Olivet Nazarene tied up the game in the fourth but Judson retook the lead in the top of the fifth. Brauer singled up the middle with two outs as Pippenger scored for the second time in the game. Judson added an insurance run in the seventh inning to make it 3-1. Gary Capolino came home from third base on a pitcher's error with only one out. Olivet Nazarene made it interesting by scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh but Draper worked the last two batters for a fly out and a strikeout to end the game.

Judson will take on Olivet Nazarene in the second game of the three-game series on Saturday, May 15^th, at 12:30 p.m. If Judson wins the first game, they win the tournament. If Olivet Nazarene wins the first game, there will be a third game of the series that follows.