LIMEPORT Prior to Tuesday's Colonial League semifinal, Northwestern coach Len Smith told senior ace Josh Williamson that there is no such thing as tomorrow in these types of games.

Williamson pitched five effective innings against Bangor during Saturday's quarterfinal victory and didn't expect to be used again yesterday against Salisbury.He was wrong.Williamson entered in the final inning and earned the save during Northwestern's thrilling 5-4 10-inning victory."It feels awesome for many reasons," explained Williamson when asked about the win. "We haven't beaten them at all this season. This is the first time we've ever been in the league playoffs as seniors and it's a pretty exciting experience to make it to the league championship."Northwestern started off scorching hot in the first inning as the top of the order strung together four consecutive hits to start the game. That start included Tyler Schreiner's inside-the-park two-run home run."We feel we have three people at the top of that order that can hit the ball and have speed," Smith said. "You saw that with the way we circled the bases in very quick order. The speed is outstanding."Salisbury also struck in the bottom of the first inning, but Tigers' starting pitcher Jordan Storm settled in and tossed an efficient six and a third innings limiting the Falcons explosive offense to just two runs."He's really come a long way this season," Smith said. "I wish it would have been a little different outcome for him, but he did an outstanding job for us and has taken on a big role in our rotation."Northwestern took a two-run lead into the bottom of the seventh frame, when Salisbury's Evan Kulig came through with a two-run single up the middle off of reliever Jacob Augustus to even up the game and send it to extras.Kulig also relieved Salisbury starter Chad Cooperman in the fifth inning and limited the Tigers to just two runs (one earned) over his five innings of work."He did everything we asked him to do," said Salisbury head coach Mike Pochron. "He faced them twice this year (on the mound) and we thought we would give them a different look. He came in and gave us everything and more at the plate and on the mound."Thanks to some sloppy Salisbury fielding, the Tigers manufactured a run in the top of the 10th frame.Brady Mengel scored what proved to be the game-winning run when Salisbury couldn't get an out on Williamson's infielder grounder.With a one-run lead and runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning, Williamson was called upon to get the job done.He struck out Taylor Linn for the second out and earned the final out of the game when Taylor Breininger impressively snagged an Andrew Fletcher fly ball in right-center field."The plan wasn't for me to have to pitch today at all," said Williamson. "Coach did say to me that there is no tomorrow in games like these and we have to be ready for anything. It was too close of a game, but we came away with the win."Talking about Breininger's catch, Williamson added, "He's a great athlete out there. He's saved me a bunch of times. He's one of the big reasons why we made it to where we are."Northwestern will play top-seeded Saucon Valley on Thursday for Colonial League championship."Coach says you always want to be playing your best baseball at the end of the year," said Williamson. "Hopefully this momentum carries into Thursday."N'western 200 101 000 1 - 5 9 2Salisbury 101 000 200 0 - 4 11 5Storm, Augustus (7), Williamson (10), and Wiik; Cooperman, Kulig (5), and Rogers. W - Augustus. L - Kulig. HR - Schreiner (first inning, one on).