In a thrilling display of offensive firepower, No. 4 San Juan outlasted top-seeded Beaver 13-8 Thursday at BYU to punch their ticket to the 2A state tournament semifinals. The game was a rollercoaster from the first pitch, with both teams trading blows before San Juan pulled away in the latter innings.

San Juan struck first with two runs in the top of the first, but Beaver answered immediately with four of their own in the bottom half. The back-and-forth continued, with Beaver holding a 7-5 lead after three innings. That's when the Broncos' bats came alive.

San Juan erupted for eight runs over the next three frames while holding Beaver to just one. The game-breaking moment came in the fifth inning when Grady Lacy smashed a two-run triple, followed by Jagger Nieves clearing the bases with a double. The offensive production was spread throughout the lineup, but Kreed Herring stood out with a complete performance—driving in three runs at the plate and striking out seven on the mound.

"This team is just a resilient bunch," said San Juan head coach Jens Nielson. "We have a really strong senior group, and this team just loves each other. That exemplifies and exudes to the rest of the group. They're taking extra reps on their own in batting cages. They're having fun—we can't get too serious with them because they just play better loose."

Nielson praised his pitching staff's adjustment as the game wore on, noting the team threw two freshmen who settled in against Beaver's powerful lineup. "We're exceptionally pleased with the way the latter innings turned out," he added.

With their eyes on the 2A state title, San Juan knows what it takes to go the distance. "Just never give up," Nielson said. "Keep grinding it out, put the ball in play, trust your teammates." The Broncos are two wins away from bringing home the championship.