PLAY OF THE GAME — Chase Thompson’s go-ahead single: Nebraska turned a three-run deficit into a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning. Thompson, however, helped spark an enormous answer and his pinch-hit RBI single to right field put Hawaii back ahead, 4-3 in the seventh. The West champions erupted from there and showcased their firepower en route to reaching the winner’s bracket final.

HAWAII PLAYER OF THE GAME — Ryan Keanu: The versatile first baseman showed off his arm in Hawaii’s first game, pitching a dominant game. He did so with his bat Sunday and finished just a single shy of hitting for the cycle. Keanu went 3 for 5 with a home run, triple and double. He also scored twice and drove in two runs. Keanu ignited a two-out, three-run first inning rally when he slammed a triple.

NEBRASKA PLAYER OF THE GAME — Kowen Rader: Showing excellent poise, Rader stifled a potent Hawaii offense over his final 4 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and giving Nebraska a shot at making an impressive comeback. Rader struck out six, scattered three hits after the first inning when Hawaii went up 3-0 and also hit a key single which helped fuel Nebraska’s furious sixth-inning rally.

BIG INNING –Hawaii seventh: Showing no fear, Hawaii came right back after Nebraska stormed back with three runs in the sixth to force extra innings. The West champions scored eight runs, collected six hits from different players and sent 13 batters to the plate. Eight of the first nine batters in the seventh reached base.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hawaii players celebrate getting on the board during their game against Midwest on Sunday.

BEST EFFORT –Nebraska’s comeback: Kaikea Patoc-Young pitched an outstanding game for Hawaii and was working on a one-hit shutout in the sixth inning as Hawaii led, 3-0. That lead looked especially imposing with how well Patoc-Young was throwing. But instead of buckling, Nebraska fought back, showed why it is one of the country’s best teams and tied the game. Owen Ablott reached on an error, Rader hit his single and Hunter Nepple blasted a three-run home run. Just like that the game was tied.

HOME RUNS: Nepple hit, arguably, the biggest home run in Nebraska history when he erased a three-run deficit with one mighty swing. Nepple continued his torrid hitting at the Series and his game-tying, three-run home run in the sixth inning forced extra innings. Nepple fell behind 0-2 before launching his mammoth home run over the bushes and onto the hill well beyond the left field fence. Keanu showcased his speed on his inside-the-park home run. The ball sailed deep into the right-center field gap and Keanu scored with ease, capping his huge day and giving Nebraska a 7-3 lead.

FLASHING LEATHER: Nebraska third baseman Benjamin Wibbels wasted little time showing some Major League-like defense, quickly backpedaling and snaring a Chase Thompson liner headed toward shallow left field. An inning later, Hunter Nepple made a gem of a player, stopping a Kaikea Patoc-Young screaming grounder in the hole, and throwing to Wibbels for a force out which saved a run. Just a batter later, Hawaii shortstop Kekoa Payanal exacted some revenge and made a superb play while robbing Owen Brown of a leadoff single. Payanal was not fooled by the Brown rocket, scooped it off a tricky bounce and made a snap throw to first for the out. Nepple made the game’s best play in the fifth inning, stopping a Kekoa Payanal grounder in the hole and, from his knees on the outfield grass, making an outstanding throw to take away a sure RBI single.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY — “That’s Nebraska pride at its finest there. We’re a millimeter from walking out of that game with a ‘W’,” Nebraska manager Dustin Rader said. “These guys compete like nobody I’ve even been around before.”

“They kept their heads up,” Hawaii manager Brandon Sardinha said of his team’s reaction following Nebraska’s rally. “We still had more game to play, and they came back and did what they usuallly do and I can’t be any more proud of them than I am right now.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midwest's Hunter Nepple calls for a ruling on a play at second during their game against Hawaii on Sunday.

WHAT IT MEANS — Hawaii moves on to the winner’s bracket final and will play the Michigan/Texas winner. Nebraska continues the best season in state history Monday when it plays Washington in an elimination game under the lights at Lamade Stadium.