After winning three consecutive games in the opening round of the NAIA national tournament last week, Tabor College has advanced to the school’s first ever NAIA World Series appearance.

The Bluejays faced Viterbo University in the championship of the Hutchinson bracket, winning 5-1 after defeating them 3-2 in the first round of the bracket.

Starting pitcher Alex Mann played a complete game for the Bluejays, allowing one unearned run in 92 pitches. Mann only gave up five hits while striking out six.

Viterbo tied the game at 1 on an error in the fourth inning, but Tabor held steady. Grant Silva hit an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, before Armando Castillo scored on an error in the fifth. Silva hit another RBI single in the fifth, giving the Bluejays a 4-1 lead.

Kirk Rocha drove in one more run in the eighth inning, helping Tabor win 5-1.

With the win, the Bluejays advance to the NAIA World Series Friday in Lewiston, Idaho. Ranked ninth in the country, Tabor will play No. 8 Southern Polytechnic State, Ga., at 9 a.m. Friday.

More information on the tournament can be found at www.taborbluejays.com.