Monmouth’s 4-0 victory puts it into tomorrow’s winner’s bracket game against Carthage College, which rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat Wartburg College 3-2 in 10 innings.

Johnson, who has now won his last nine decisions after starting the year 1-2, threw 137 pitches in his gem, walking three and striking out seven. The Scots did not commit an error behind him until the ninth inning, but they made up for the miscue two batters later by turning a 4-6-3 doubleplay to end the game.

Offensively, Steve Glasgow’s RBI single broke open a scoreless game in the top of the third, and he and Thad King came home on Joe Larkins’ two-run double. The score remained 3-0 until the top of the ninth, when Jason Riney led off the frame with a pinch-hit homer to left.

In the early game, Wartburg’s B.J. Meaney stroked a two-run double to get the Knights on the board in the top of the third, but Carthage’s Adam Husing got the runs right back with a two-run double in the bottom of the frame. The score remained tied through the end of nine innings, although Wartburg squandered several scoring chances, finishing the game with 12 runners left on base.

In the bottom of the 10th, Carthage’s No. 9 hitter, Dave Fellin, singled, was sacrificed to second and took third on a ground out. Husing then lined a grounder to short, and the ball was misplayed, allowing him to beat the throw while Fellin scored the winning unearned run.

Carthage closer Brandon Roth notched the win, pitching 2-1/3 innings of one-hit relief.

Monmouth’s victory broke the school record for wins in a season, and the Scots will take a 25-11 mark into Saturday’s 3 p.m. against Carthage (32-9). The 11 a.m. game will pit Aurora (33-5) and Wartburg (29-14).

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