CARY, N.C. - Behind a dominant performance by starting pitcher Jonathan Guzman, Orange Lutheran secured its spot in the USA Baseball National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the Town of Cary championship game for the third consecutive year with a 12-0 defeat of Monsignor Pace on Thursday.

For the third time in as many games at the 2019 NHSI, Orange Lutheran struck first when they pushed two runners across in the top of the first inning. A leadoff double by Chad Born (1-for-3) got the game started before a Garrett Frechette (0-for-2) sacrifice fly brought in the first run of and the Lancers took advantage of a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

Monsignor Pace battled back immediately to load the bases with no outs in the bottom half of the frame but the Spartans couldn't break through. Guzman allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base before settling in and getting a pop up and two punch outs to escape the jam with no damage.

Aside from those first three batters, Guzman was dominant on the mound to earn the win. In his six innings of work, the senior allowed just two hits - sitting down the side in order in the second, third and fourth innings - without giving up a run, while striking out four and walking just one.

The Lancers would add to their lead with one run each in the second, fourth and sixth innings to make it 4-0 but struck the biggest blow in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to break the game wide open. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch started the inning and loaded the bases with just one out for Max Rajcic who took full advantage. He laced a two-RBI double down the left field line for the first two runs of the frame and Tank Espalin added a two-RBI knock of his own to give Orange Lutheran an 8-0 advantage two batters later.

Three more runs in the seventh inning got the Lancers to the final 12-0 score and secured their place in the NHSI championship game for the third year in a row.

Espalin (3-for-3) and Carl Lawson (2-for-2) collected half of the team's ten hits in the game, as well as three and two RBIs, respectively. Rajcic (1-for-2) also tallied a multi-RBI game with two of his own.

For Monsignor Pace, Yordani Carmona (1-for-3), Michael Machin (1-for-3) and Sammy Infante (1-for-3) were responsible for the Spartans' three hits on the day. Starting pitcher Luis Gonzalez was charged with the loss.

For the first time in 2019, the NHSI championship game will be played under the lights at 6 p.m. ET on Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, following the first-ever NHSI Championship Festival. Orange Lutheran will match up against the winner of Thursday's second semifinal game that will be played at 7 p.m. ET.

The second semifinal game, as well as Saturday's championship game, will be streamed live on MLB.com, USABaseball.com and Facebook Live at Facebook.com/USABaseball.