IDAHO FALLS — The Pocatello Razorbacks simply refuse to come home without a state title.

    After losing their first game of the state tournament, the Razorbacks have battled through the losers' bracket to win three games in two days. On Saturday, Pocatello won its first contest 13-2 and the second 11-5 to be included in the final three teams of the tournament. If it wants to be the state champion, the team must find the fuel for three more games today and tomorrow.

    And according to Razorbacks head coach Dan McCaskill, it is more than willing to empty the tank.

    "They know one more loss, and we're done for the season, ... cleaning up the clubhouse, cleaning out the vans and calling it a summer," he said. "And they don't want that."

    After hammering the Twin Falls Hawks in the first game, the Razorbacks had seven hours to get fresh before taking on the Lewis and Clark Cubs.

    Right off the bat, it was as if they never left the field. Greg Gwinn started things off with a leadoff double, Justin Stiffler hit a stand-up RBI triple to bring Gwinn home and Cory Meyer finished with an RBI double.

    With Trevor Bowers returning to the mound after his loss in the first game of the tournament, the Razorbacks’ defense held the Cubs scoreless in the first three innings. Bowers gave up three hits and struck out five.

    After Pocatello retired the side in the bottom of the third frame, its offense torched the field again in the top of the fourth. After Ethan Hunt scored on a passed ball, Justin Stiffler rocketed a two-RBI single to left-center field. Gwinn crossed the plate and McCaskill waved Jerred Stiffler home, but it looked like he would be late. Some nifty footwork, however, earned the score as Stiffler tiptoed around the catcher's tag, dove on his stomach and grabbed the plate.

    That was when the Razorbacks began to loosen their hold on the lead, and the Cubs stopped hibernating.

    Bowers hit the first batter he saw and surrendered a hit and an RBI to the second Cubs batter. McCaskill opted to take Bowers off the mound and replace him with Jerred Stiffler. A passed ball at the plate scored a second run, and another passed ball and a throwing error prolonged the inning. The Razorbacks finally got out of it on a flyout to Gwinn.

    In the fifth inning with one out and the bases loaded, the Razorbacks looked poised to extend their lead. The runner on first, Ethan Hunt, took off toward second on the pitcher's delivery, not noticing Conner LaMont was already occupying the bag. Hunt realized his mistake and darted back toward first, but was too late. Trevor Bowers, who was on third, saw it as an opportunity to make a break for home. He suffered the same fate as Hunt and was tagged as he slid into the plate.

    It was little things like this that spared the Cubs from a blowout.

    "What they've got to realize is when they're up like that, they've got to put their foot down," McCaskill said. "It's just the little things. It's just so many little things."

    It was the little things that gave the Razorbacks a little more reason to hold their breath in the bottom of the seventh. Leading 11-5, Pocatello needed three outs to end the game. But Lewis and Clark wasn't ready to lie down that easily.

    After giving up a walk, Brandon Georgeson struck out the next two batters. He worked the following two batters to two strikes each. The first one walked, and the second one hit a bloop single to left. A runner scored on a passed ball, and the next Cub batter ripped a two-RBI single. Just as the Cubs began their rally cries, the Razorbacks squashed their dreams with a groundout.

    With three games to go, McCaskill is reaching deep into the bullpen. The Razorbacks are up to the task.

    "This is the state tournament, and I'm going to throw their arms off," McCaskill said. "They told me they want it. Georgie and Bowers said, 'Throw me. Throw me.' And I'm going to."

    Justin Stiffler will take the mound today at 10 a.m. at Bonneville High School against the Mountain View Toros. The winner of that game moves on to play at 1 p.m. in the potential state title game against the Nampa Braves. If the Braves win that game, they win the tournament. If the Braves lose, however, the two teams will play Monday at 10 a.m. to determine the state champion.

Razorbacks 13, Twin Falls Hawks 2

Razorbacks 400 121 5 — 13 11 0

Twin Falls Hawks 000 200 0 — 2 7 3

Razorbacks — Brandon Georgeson, Brendon Pixton (7) and Cory Meyer. Twin Falls Hawks — Jacob Newton, Gadge Kepther (7) and Chris Chapman. 2B — Kam Farnsworth 2 (R), Cory Meyer (R), Kaleb Price (TF).

Razorbacks 11, Lewis and Clark 5

Razorbacks 200 303 3 — 11 15 3

Lewis and Clark 000 203 0 — 5 8 2

Razorbacks — Trevor Bowers, Jerred Stiffler (4), Brendon Pixton (6), Brandon Georgeson (6) and Cory Meyer. Lewis and Clark — Casey Callahan, Logan Chase (6) and Cole Grahiva. 2B — Greg Gwinn (R), Justin Stiffler (R), Cory Meyer (R), Kam Farnsworth (R), Zack Ricard (LC). 3B — Justin Stiffler.