Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central

MARION — Coming from the losers’ bracket, Southern Illinois had to beat the Bronx (NY) twice to earn a spot in the Colt League World Series championship game. SI took the first step winning 4-3 Monday night.

Wesclin’s Lucas Harriss was strong on the mound and at the plate. Harriss allowed two runs over 5.2 innings and was 2-4 including a huge RBI single in the sixth inning.

Carterville’s Gavin Johnson got the scoring started, leading off the bottom of the third with an inside the park home run–the first home run of the entire tournament. SI added another run in the inning when Jaxon Hudson scored on a wild pitch.

Goreville’s Lathan Parrish made it 3-0 with an RBI single in the fifth.

The Bronx picked up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to make it a 3-2 game. Then after Harriss’ RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, the Bronx scored a run in the seventh and had the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position, but SI reliever Brayden Morse from Carterville struck out Home Run Derby champion Deiry Bodre to end it.

The two teams will play again at 1:00 Tuesday with the winner advancing to the championship game at 7:00 against Marion.