Even when faced with uncharacteristically meager run support, Nate Kloempken was equal to the challenge of keeping Montesano alive at district.

Kloempken pitched a four-hitter as the Bulldogs eked out a 2-0 win over Hoquiam in the elimination phase of the District IV Class 1A Baseball Tournament on Tuesday at Olympic Stadium.

The Evergreen 1A League champion Bulldogs (13-4) will face La Center another loser-out contest scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, probably at Castle Rock. Montesano must win twice this weekend to claim the district’s third and final regional berth.

State finalists the past two years, the Grizzlies closed out a star-crossed season at 5-13.

The Bulldogs, who had averaged more than nine runs per game during the regular season, has mustered only six hits in their two district contests. They managed just two off Grizzly pitchers Brody Bennett and Walker Dunn on Tuesday.

Neither of the runs were driven in and both were the byproducts of defensive miscues — although one of them was technically earned.

As it developed, however, Monte staff ace Kloempken needed only one of those markers.

Mixing a curve nicely with his fastball, the senior right-hander struck out seven while walking only one. Although he seemed in jeopardy of reaching his 105-pitch limit after throwing 63 in the first four innings, Kloempken became more economical as the game progressed and finished with 98 pitches.

“Kloemp is just a big-game pitcher. He likes the big moments,” Montesano coach Mike Osgood saluted. “Anytime you’ve got Kloemp on the bump, you feel like you have a chance to win the ball game.”

“We had opportunities, but he pitched a very good game,” HHS coach Steve Jump said of Kloempken. “He hit his spots. He’s a very good pitcher.”

For more than half the contest, Grizzly starter Bennett was Kloempken’s match. Keeping the Bulldogs off-balance with his curve, the senior right-hander needed just 44 pitches in sailing through the first four innings.

Consecutive walks to Sawyer Rhoden and Noah Quinn, followed by Matt Plato’s infield single, loaded the bases with two outs in the Montesano fifth.

With Evan Bates at the plate, a passed ball scored Rhoden. The subsequent walk to Bates (the final batter Bennett faced) made the run earned.

The Bulldogs added a run without benefit of a hit against the left-handed Dunn in the sixth.

Dakoyta Reninger drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a two-out error. On Dunn’s pickoff throw to first, Carson Klinger broke for second. The relay sailed into left-center field as Reninger came in from third.

Dunn, who had three of Hoquiam’s four hits, singled to open the seventh. Kloempken, however, retired the next three batters on a strikeout, infield fly and a game-ending grounder handled by second baseman Bates.

Very shaky defensively in Monday’s opening round loss to White Salmon, the Bulldogs committed only two errors in this one — and even got a rally-killing out off one of them.

Following Dunn’s first hit and a wild pitch in the Grizzly second, Bennett’s two-out grounder to first was thrown away. Bulldog catcher Rhoden, however, alertly collared the loose ball rolling toward the backstop, caught Dunn making too wide of a turn and threw him out at third base to end the inning.

An emotional Steve Jump paid tribute to assistant coaches Zac Reynvaan, Curtis Eccles, Mike Bozich and Tracy Pelan and his three seniors — Bennett, Zach Spradlin and Skyler Jump.

The latter, Hoquiam’s ace pitcher, missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. That was one of a slew of misfortunes that dogged the Grizzlies, who were seemingly poised for another run at the Final Four with most of last year’s state runner-up team composed of underclassmen.

“Those seniors were in the group that put Hoquiam baseball on the map,” the HHS coach said. “It was the oddest year, the most difficult year in a lot of ways in my coaching career. But I wouldn’t trade it if I could spend more time with these boys.”

Montesano 000 011 0 — 2 2 2

Hoquiam 000 000 0 — 0 4 4

Kloempken and Rhoden; Bennett, Dunn (5) and Folkers.

Three hits: Hoquiam — Dunn.

Winning pitcher — Kloempken (walked one; struck out seven). Losing pitcher — Bennett (walked four; struck out one).