NAIA Coaches' poll for March 26, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking. Recap below the fold.

NAIA baseball action during the past week, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

ISR #1 Lewis-Clark State is #8 in strength of schedule. They swept four games against Oregon Tech, 13-3, 8-2, 20-1, and 12-9. Garrett Wilson went the distance in the second game, allowed eight hits, struck out four (story). 3B/1B Brady Steiger went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the third game, and Ryan Sells got the win (story). Steiger was 12-for-16 with five doubles and two home runs for the series, and he is batting .482.

The Warriors then won the first of six games in Daytona Beach, FL. They defeated Saint Thomas 3-2. DH Eric Peterson singled in the winning run, and Carson Nylund got the win (story).

The Warriors play at #12 Embry-Riddle March 19, 21, 22, and 23, and play Webber International March 20 in Daytona Beach.

#2 Cal State San Marcos swept four games against Vanguard, 3-0, 6-2, 5-1, and 8-1. James Dykstra pitched the first eight innings of the shutout in the first game, allowed two hits, struck out 10. 3B Kenny Belzer hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning for the winning run. The losing pitcher, Kanakani Usui, went the distance, allowed only five hits. The Lions were done in by four unearned runs on four errors in the second game. LF Kyle Kuck went 2-for-3, singled in the winning run, and pitched a hitless seventh inning (story). Steve Messner went the distance in the third game, allowed four hits. Belzer went 2-for-5, batted in three runs, including the winning run. Kevin Hilton went the seven-inning distance in the fourth game, allowed seven hits, struck out three. The Cougars' first two runs came on balks (story).

The Cougars are 19-2. Hilton is 4-0, 0.82 ERA, and Dykstra is 6-0, 1.15 ERA, with 53 strikeouts. The Cougars visit now-Division-II Point Loma Nazarene March 22, and host Point Loma March 23.

NAIA baseball action during the past week, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

ISR #1 Lewis-Clark State is also #1 in strength of schedule. They swept four games against Menlo, 10-3, 8-1, 2-0, and 11-7. 2B Brian Corliss was 2-for-4 with a bases-loaded triple in the first game (story). RF Cody Lavalli went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the second game. Carsen Nylund and Steve Thompson combined for the shutout in the third game; Nylund went eight innings, allowed two hits, struck out eight. LF Jake Shirley scored the winning run on a ground out by CF Zach Holley in the first inning (story). Lavalli hit another home run in the fourth game, went 2-for-4 with four RBI (story).

The Warriors host Oregon Tech March 15-16 (streaming audio). They then travel to Daytona Beach, FL for six games, starting with Saint Thomas on March 18.

#2 Faulkner lost a mid-week game to Point, 3-2. All three of Point's runs were unearned, and Tommy Braddock got the win for the Skyhawks. The Eagles then lost the first game of a series at Spring Hill, 6-5 (ten innings). The Eagles trailed most of the game, but took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth on three unearned runs. The Badgers sent it into extra innings with an RBI single by 2B Brian Sims. The winning run came on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Trey Marshall. Douglas Keller, who allowed only one hit the last three innings, got the win (story).

The Badgers didn't get another run in the series; the Eagles won the remaining two games 6-0 and 11-0. Will Dismukes and Julian Esquibel pitched the shutouts. 1B Ethan Williams hit a three-run home run in the first game, and C Zach Colby went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in the second game. (story).

The Eagles are 21-4, and Esquibel is 6-0 in six starts, with an ERA of 1.05. The Eagles visit Blue Mountain March 12, and host #18 William Carey March 15-16.

NAIA baseball action during the past week.

#1 Tennessee Wesleyan defeated Georgia Gwinnett 2-1, and won two of three against Saint Andrew's, 2-0, 6-5, and 2-3. The winning run against Georgia Gwinnett came on an RBI single by SS Wes Minton in the bottom of the ninth. Corey Rhoney and Noah Piard combined for the shutout in the first Saint Andrew's game; Rhoney went eight innings, allowed four hits, struck out seven. In the second game, the Knights out-hit the Bulldogs 12-7; the Bulldogs scored all six of their runs in the first inning. CF Travis Burnside hit a two-RBI single, then scored the winning run on a misplayed ground ball. In the third game, the defending champions were held to six hits by Joe McCarty and Evan Tucker. RF Michael Durig batted in all three of the Knights' runs.

The Bulldogs are now 15-5. They visit Belhaven March 5-6, host Milligan March 9-10, and host Ohio Christian March 11.

#2 LSU-Shreveport got an easy 15-5 mid-week win over Division III Louisiana College, but was swept by Texas Wesleyan, 5-1, 12-8, and 6-5. Derek Vaughn got the win for the Rams in the first game; he went six innings, allowed one run on two hits, struck out four. Connor Zamora and Nolan Barbee kept the Pilots off the board the rest of the way, and Zamora struck out three of the six batters he faced. CF Trevor Moon singled in the winning run (story). In the second game, the Rams scored ten runs in the second inning, capped by a three-RBI double by SS David Kiriakos. The Pilots out-hit the Rams 11-7 in the third game. They got within one run in the top of the ninth, and had the go-ahead run on first with nobody out. However, reliever Patrick Stanley got two strikeout and a fly out to end the game and get a save (story).

Northwood (TX), who has won seven straight, has the lead in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Rams are two games back, and the Pilots are three games back. The Pilots visit LSU-Alexandria March 5, and host Huston-Tillotson March 8-9. Streaming audio

NAIA baseball action during the past week.

#1 Tennessee Wesleyan lost a mid-week game to #12 Lindsey Wilson 4-3. The Bulldogs outhit the Blue Raiders 9-7; LF Leandro Andino hit a sacrifice fly to send in the winning run. (story). The defending champions then swept three games against Indiana-Southeast, 12-2, 3-1, and 2-1. In the first game, Four Bulldog pitchers combined to hold the Grenadiers to four hits; Jarrod Jameson got the win. SS Wes Minton scored the winning run in the second game on a passed ball; Corey Rhoney got the win, went 5 2/3 innings, allowed four hits, struck out five. In the third game, the Bulldogs managed only two hits off Grenadiers pitcher Lucas Harry, but RF David Donald was hit by a pitch and scored on a ground out for the first Bulldog run, and Minton hit a solo home run for the winning run. Tyler Wilson got the win; he went 4 2/3 innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven.

The Bulldogs host Georgia Gwinnett February 27, and Saint Andrew's, who is 9-1, March 2-3.

#2 LSU-Shreveport swept Texas College, 14-4, 3-2, and 8-4. Rory Young got the win in the first game. The Pilots needed a two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh and final inning by C David Dorton to win the second game. CF Ridge Gonsoulin hit a two-run home run in the third game, finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.

The Pilots host Division III Louisiana College February 26, and visit Texas Wesleyan March 1-2.

NAIA baseball action during the past week.

#1 Tennessee Wesleyan swept Indiana Tech 7-6, 4-1, and 3-1. The first game was tied 5-5 going into the seventh and last inning. The Warriors got a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI triple by RF Bryan Brudi, but the defending champions tied it on an RBI single by RF David Donald, and won it on an RBI single by 1B Trey Griffin. Griffin went 4-for-4, Donald went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Both teams had three hits in the third game. The winning run came on a sacrifice fly by C Brackton Smith. Jarrod Jameson got the win; he went seven innings, allowed no earned runs, struck out seven.

The Bulldogs have won eight straight after losing the first three games of the season. They host #12 Lindsey Wilson on February 20, and Indiana-Southeast February 22-23.

#2 LSU-Shreveport won two of three against Culver-Stockton. Jason Mouton and Cade Bowen combined for a one-hitter in the first game, won by the Pilots 5-0. Mouton went six innings, allowed the only hit in the fifth inning, struck out five. Bowen pitched a perfect inning, struck out one. In the second game, the Pilots committed five errors, walked seven batters, hit seven batters, and lost 14-3 (story). The third game went eleven innings, and the Pilots won 6-5. CF Ridge Gonsoulin hit an RBI single for the winning run. Winning pitcher Ben Suit retired every batter he faced over the last three innings (story).

The Pilots host Division II Southern Arkansas on February 19, and Texas College February 22-23.

#3 Lee swept Mobile 6-3, 3-1, and 12-0. Myles Smith got the win in the first game, and 2B Mark Silva went 3-for-3 with an RBI. RF Corey Davis hit a two-RBI single for the winning run in the second game. Kyle Briner got the win in relief; he struck out five of the seven batters he faced. The Rams got an excellent effort from Ryan Hines, who struck out 11 (story). 3B Roberto Duran went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run and four RBI in the third game. LHP Clint Terry and C.J. Lusted combined for the three-hit shutout; Terry went six innings, struck out five (story).

The Flames are 10-2. They host Rio Grande February 18, visit Union C. (KY) February 19, and host #18 Auburn-Montgomery February 22-23.

Results from Tuesday, February 12:

#3 Lee outhit defending champion Tennessee Wesleyan 9-5, and the Flames led until the bottom of the eighth inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with three walks in the bottom of the eighth, and tied the game when SS Wes Minton was hit by a pitch. The next batter hit into a double play, but LF David Donald went home on the play to score the winning run. The Flames got the tying run to third in the top of the ninth, but closer Brian Bardis got a strikout to end the game.

The Bulldogs were held to one hit over the first four innings by Keegan Yuhl, and the Flames led 2-0. Minton hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 2-1. Story from Tennessee Wesleyan site: Bulldogs rally to put out Flames. These two teams meet again on March 27, in Athens, TN.

#2 LSU-Shreveport completed a home-and-home sweep of Houston-Victoria by winning a double-header in Victoria, TX, 12-2 and 8-1. 1B Kyle Pearson hit a bases loaded triple in the first game, and Caleb Olson got the win. C David Dorton hit a two-run home run in the second game, and Trent Cormier got the win. Story from LSU-Shreveport site: Pilots sweep UHV again

Cal State San Marcos got another win against Division III Chapman, 9-5, to run their record to 5-0. 3B Kenny Belzer hit a two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to break a 5-5 tie. 1B Brandon Bentson went 4-for-4 with two RBI. Frank Charlton got the win in relief. Story from Cal State San Marcos site: CSUSM Breaks Away Late to Remain Perfect

Nine of the NAIA's top ten teams have started their seasons.

#1 Tennessee Wesleyan swept three games against West Virginia Tech, 6-5, 5-2, and 13-2. Brady Frey, Zach Fleshman, and Jarrod Jameson got the wins. SS Wes Minton had a good weekend; 5-for-7, two home runs, five RBI. The Bulldogs host #3 Lee on February 12, and Indiana Tech February 16-17.

#2 LSU-Shreveport swept Houston-Victoria 7-6, 3-0, and 3-2. Paul Barton got the win in the first game, stranded seven baserunners. Rory Young pitched a one-hit shutout in the second game, 1B Kyle Pearson hit a three-run home run in the first inning for all of the Pilots' runs. Jason Mouton got the win in the third game.

The Pilots and Jaguars play two more games in Victoria February 12. The Pilots host Culver-Stockton February 15-16.

#3 Lee defeated Bluefield 23-2, #20 Georgetown C. (KY) 6-1, and Rio Grande 9-0. 3B Roberto Duran went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in the win over Georgetown C. Four Flames pitchers combined for the three-hit shutout against Rio Grande; starter Jose Samayoa got the win. Duran went 2-for-3, got three more RBI.

The Flames then lost a game to #24 Madonna, 4-3. Starter Jeremy Gooding got the win for the Crusaders, went six innings, struck out seven. story. The Crusaders lost 8-3 to Georgetown C., and are 3-1. They don't play again until March 1.

The Flames host U. of Mobile February 15-16, and Rio Grande February 18.

Eight of the NAIA's top ten teams have started their seasons.

#9 Faulkner, a team with heavy graduation losses, started their season with a double-header sweep of defending champion and #1 Tennessee Wesleyan, 5-4 and 12-0. The next day, the Eagles split a double-header with #12 Lindsey Wilson, winning 5-2, and losing 10-7 (ten innings, scheduled for seven). SS Dauris Holguin singled in the winning run in the first game against Tennessee Wesleyan. Johnny Shuttlesworth and Dustin Spruiell combined for the shutout in the second game, held the Bulldogs to three hits. Julian Esquibel got the win in the first game against Lindsey Wilson. They nearly made it four straight; Lindsey Wilson got an unearned run in the seventh inning to send it into extra innings, then got three runs in the tenth to win it.

The Bulldogs got another loss against #18 Auburn-Montgomery, 5-4, before getting their first win of the season against the Warhawks 12-3. 3B Jake Stone hit a double and a home run in the win.

The Bulldogs open their home schedule against West Virginia Tech February 9-10. The Eagles host Talladega February 5, Shawnee State February 9, and U. of the Cumberlands February 10.

The 57^th NAIA baseball season is already under way, and the Golden State Athletic Conference is already playing conference matchups. The season gets going in earnest this weekend. Defending champion Tennessee Wesleyan visits #9 Faulkner, #2 LSU-Shreveport visits William Carey, Northwestern Ohio visits #3 Lee, #23 Doane visits #4 Oklahoma City, #5 Rogers State visits Arlington Baptist, #20 Georgetown College (KY) visits #7 Embry-Riddle, and #10 Oklahoma Baptist visits Southwestern Oklahoma.

Here is an evaluation of the top 10 teams according to the pre-season coaches' poll:

#1 – Tennessee Wesleyan: Pre-season All-American OF Jake Stone (.407, 13 home runs) is back. He had a great summer, led the Coastal Plain League in hitting with a .375 average. Other returnees are OF-DH Drew Levi (.326, 12 HR), OF Travis Burnside (.284), RHP Corey Rhoney (10-0, 2.31 ERA, 64 K), and LHP Josh Coller (10-2, 3.02 ERA, 99 K). The Bulldogs also have a prize recruit, OF Kendall Radcliffe, selected in the 25th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Games to watch: at Faulkner Feb. 2, at Auburn-Montgomery Feb. 3, Lee Feb. 12, Lindsey Wilson Feb. 20, Georgetown C. March 19, Lee March 27, Cumberland March 29-30, at Georgetown C. April 3, at Lee April 9

#2 – LSU-Shreveport: OF Kyle Pearson (.353, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 1.000 fielding percentage) is a pre-season All-American. Other returnees are 1B Greg Friesen (.391, 15 HR, 68 RBI), OF Kade Billeaudeaux (.380), RHP Jason Mouton (1-0, 3.60 ERA), RHP Ben Suit (2-0, 2.25 ERA), LHP Jake Byrd (0-0, 0.00 ERA), and LHP Caleb Olsen (0-0, 0.00 ERA). C Jared Vial is a newcomer with the Pilots. Games to watch: Houston-Victoria Feb. 8-9, at Houston-Victoria Feb. 12, Southern Arkansas Feb. 19, Texas-Tyler March 19, at Southern Arkansas April 2, at Centenary April 17, Centenary April 23