Union U. (TN) 3, Faulkner 1: (at Hardeeville, SC): After defeating Asbury 7-1 earlier in the day, the Bulldogs defeated #5 Faulkner with a complete game by Will Irwin.

Irwin, a transfer from Auburn, held the Eagles to six hits, and the only run the Eagles scored was unearned. Irwin struck out eight, didn't walk a batter, and most of the balls put in play by Eagles batters were harmless ground outs. He threw 125 pitches. He was also 2-4 at the plate.

Eagles starter Will Dismukes matched Irwin's performance for the first five innings, and the Eagles had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. However, the Bulldogs loaded the bases, and 1B Kody Pinson drew a walk to bring in the tying run, scored by Wacey Russell, the courtesy runner for Irwin. C Doug Joyce hit a two-RBI double in the seventh to bring in the winning run. Joyce went 3-for-5 for the game.

Here are the locations and seedings for the NAIA Opening Round tournaments, to be played May 10-14:

It didn't just take an extra day to decide the 2012 NAIA West championship; it took an extra inning, too. The Menlo Oaks will be making their first appearance in the NAIA Opening Round because of an outstanding tournament performance by Joey Webb, and an RBI single by 3B Michael Brandi with no outs in the top of the tenth, scoring RF Collin Forgey, who opened the inning with a triple.

The Coyotes still weren't done. After two quick outs in the bottom of the tenth, 3B Jeffrey Harris hit a single. The next batter, 1B Jesse Dodd, hit a ball that went by the third baseman and into left field. Harris tried to score all the way from first base, but ended up being out by 15 feet at home; the throw from left field was relayed by the shortstop.

Webb, who pitched four innings in relief, allowed one run on one hit, struck out six, and got the win. He pitched a complete game in the first round against British Columbia. The only run he gave up was an RBI single by DH Zachary Fabricius, which tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

Brandi was 3-for-5 for the game. James Jensen, who pitched the bottom of the tenth inning, got a save. Michael Garza, who pitched the last 4 2/3 innings for the Coyotes, got the loss.

The Oaks lost to the Coyotes 9-2 in the second round of this tournament. The Oaks defeated the Coyotes 1-0 yesterday to force this "if necessary" game.

Box score and play-by-play

It's going to take one more day to decide the NAIA West championship. Results from the third day of the NAIA West tournament at Hilken Community Stadium, Portland, OR, May 4:

Menlo 1, College of Idaho 0: A classic pitching duel on a wet afternoon. Both starters, James Jensen of Menlo and Taylor Nicholson of College of Idaho, went the distance, and both allowed five hits. Jensen threw fewer pitches (111 vs. 124), and Nicholson got more strikeouts (11 vs. 2), but in the stat that matters, Nicholson gave up the only run of the game, in the top of the eighth inning. C Ty Finley opened the inning with a single, and he was replaced by courtesy runner Taylor Cohn. He moved to second on a bunt single by CF Mickey Phelps, and to third on a bunt by DH James Threw. The next batter, RF Collin Forgey, hit a sacrifice fly.

The Coyotes got a baserunner as far as third in the bottom of the eighth (the only time in the game that they did so), but a ground out ended the inning.

Finley went 2-for-3 for the Oaks, and Phelps went 2-for-4. SS Tanner Hodges and LF Zachary Fabricius went 2-for-4 for the Coyotes.

Results from the second day of the NAIA West tournament at Hilken Community Stadium, Portland, OR, May 3:

College of Idaho 9, Menlo 2: SS Tanner Hodges hit a two-RBI single in the top of the third inning to provide the winning run for the Coyotes. RF Izaac Garsez hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, and Todd Griffiths went the distance for the Coyotes.

Garsez had his second big game of the tournament: 3-for-4 with two RBI and four runs scored. Hodges went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Griffiths scattered eleven hits and struck out six.

Starter Derek Martinez got the loss for the Oaks. DH Taylor Cohn went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Oaks.

Box score and play-by-play

Concordia-Portland 7, British Columbia 1 (British Columbia eliminated):

The Thunderbirds were held to six hits for the second time in the NAIA West tournament, left twelve runners on base, and the result was the end of their 2012 season.

Results from the first day of the NAIA West tournament at Hilken Community Stadium, Portland, OR, May 2:

College of Idaho 7, Concordia-Portland 5: A game that was close all the way, but the Coyotes scored runs in each of the last three innings to win it. RF Isaac Garsez scored the winning run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by 1B Jesse Dodd. Garsez was 3-for-6 with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored.

Starter Chad Yeggy went eight innings for the Coyotes. He gave up three runs (one of them unearned) in the first two innings, but gave up only one more the rest of the way. He gave up two hits at the start of the ninth inning, but Todd Griffiths moved from second base to the mound and got a double play ball and a line drive to the shortstop to finish the game with only one run coming in.

Jason Snodgrass, who allowed 13 hits, got the loss for the Cavaliers. 2B Mike Dickman went 2-for-4 for the Cavaliers.

Box score and play-by-play

Menlo 2, British Columbia 1: Oaks ace Joey Webb pitched a gem. He went the distance, held the Thunderbirds to one run on six hits, walked one, and struck out three. He threw 139 pitches.

The Oaks opened the scoring in the first inning, on and RBI single by 3B Michael Brandi. There wasn't any more scoring until the Oaks increased their lead to 2-0 with an RBI single by RF Collin Forgey in the seventh inning. The Thunderbirds got double plays in the second and third innings, and Thunderbird starter David Otterman picked off a baserunner at first to prevent further damage in the seventh. RF Sebastian Wong opened the sixth inning for the THunderbirds with a triple, and was stranded. The Thunderbirds had baserunners at second and third with one out in the seventh inning, with singles by 2B Andrew Firth and LF Nick Senior, but Firth was tagged out at home on a ground ball by 3B Mike Hole, and DH Gabe Mark grounded out to end the inning.

The NAIA Coaches' poll for May 1, 2012, with Boyd Nation's Iterative Strength Rating (ISR):

First place votes: LSU-Shreveport 18, Azusa Pacific 2

Azusa Pacific is #1 in Strength of Schedule

LSU-Shreveport won the Red River Athletic Conference championship, defeating Bacone 5-2 in the final. This was the only game of the tournament that was close. CF Ridge Gonsoulin went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the final; Drew Middleton got the win.

Oklahoma City swept three games against Wayland Baptist, 5-4, 7-0, and 22-6, and won the Sooner Athletic Conference pennant. 1B Miguel Beltran hit a three-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to win the first game. Blake Schwartz pitched a complete-game two-hitter in the second game, struck out ten. Beltran hit two home runs in the third game, to bring his season total to 22, tied for most in the NAIA. They finished their regular season with a 8-4 win over Division II Central Oklahoma. RF Chad Carman went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, and three RBI. The Stars are hosting the SAC tournament, and are scheduled to play Southern Nazarene May 2, Northwestern Oklahoma State on May 3, and #24 Lubbock Christian on May 4.

Faulkner was defeated by #5 Lee 13-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament, and because the Eagles lost an earlier game in the tournament, 12-9 to Shorter, the loss took the Flames out of the tournament. The loss to Shorter forced the Eagles to deplete their pitching staff, and they had to move position players to the mound for the last two innings of the game against Lee. This was the only meeting of the Eagles and Flames this season.

Azusa Pacific won three of four against Point Loma Nazarene. They lost the first game 6-5 when Matt Winkler balked in a run in the bottom of the 13^th inning. Garrett Gooding, who pitched 5 1/3 relief innings for the Sea Lions, allowed four hits, struck out five, got the win. The Cougars won the remaining three games 3-1, 7-3, and 4-2. Jacob Cage got the in in the first game, went six innings, allowed zero earned runs on five hits. RF Brent Warren batted in two of the Cougars' runs, including a bunt single that sent in the winning run. DH Trevor Lothrup hit a grand slam home run to win the second game. 3B Brendan Casey scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the third game; J.C. Aguayo scattered seven hits for the win. The Cougars were upset by Westmont 12-5 in the first round of the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament. 3B David Gabel went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double for the Warriors, batted in four runs. Timothy Leary went eight innings, got the win. This was Westmont's first post-season game in 15 years. The Cougars will play Fresno Pacific on May 2.

The NAIA Coaches' poll for April 24, 2012, with Boyd Nation's Iterative Strength Rating (ISR):

First place votes: LSU-Shreveport 19, Azusa Pacific 1

Azusa Pacific is #1 in Strength of Schedule

LSU-Shreveport (22-4 RRAC) swept a double-header at William Carey, 10-4 and 9-4, and clinched the Red River Athletic Conference pennant by sweeping Texas Wesleyan 5-2, 5-0, and 14-2. Jared Mortensen went the distance in the first Texas Wesleyan game, scattered eight hits, struck out nine. Matt Lackie went the distance for the shutout in the second game, ran his record to 9-0, struck out seven. The Pilots then swept a double-header at Division III Centenary, 15-11 and 10-7 (eight innings, scheduled for seven). Mortensen got a save in the second game, CF Ridge Gonsoulin batted in the winning run. This crosstown, cross-divisional matchup drew 550 fans. The Pilots host the RRAC tournament April 28-May 1.

Oklahoma City (23-4 SAC) won two of three against #18 Lubbock Christian, 5-1, 4-5 (eight innings, scheduled for seven), and 4-2. 1B Miguel Beltran hit a home run in the first game, and also made an unassisted double play. 3B Jordan Lewis batted in the winning run for the Chaparrals in the second game. Jose Gonzalez, who retired all four batters he faced, got the win. 2B Brian Fisher hit a home run for the winning run in the third game. The Stars host Wayland Baptist April 26-27, and finish their regular season at Division II Central Oklahoma April 28. Beltran now has 20 home runs on the season, most in the NAIA. The Stars lead the Sooner Athletic Conference; #8 Oklahoma Baptist is three games back (with three games remaining) with a 20-7 record.

Faulkner (27-3 SSAC) swept three games against Shorter, 4-1, 5-1, and 4-2, and won the Southern States Athletic Conference pennant. Corey Black pitched a three-hitter in the first game, struck out eight. 2B Daniel Cayton hit a two-RBI double for the winning run in the third game. Black leads the NAIA with an ERA of 0.97, and is tied with four other pitchers (including Rich Hawkins of Oklahoma City) with ten wins. The Eagles have won 20 straight games. The SSAC tournament starts April 26, in Columbus, GA. The Eagles will play Belhaven in the first round.

The NAIA Coaches' poll for April 17, 2012, with Boyd Nation's Iterative Strength Rating (ISR):

First place votes: LSU-Shreveport 18, Azusa Pacific 2

Azusa Pacific is #1 in Strength of Schedule

LSU-Shreveport (19-4 RRAC) won two of three close games against Texas-Brownsville, 1-2, 8-7, and 10-9. The loss ended a 16-game winning streak, and was Jared Mortensen's first loss of the season. Zach Armstrong went the seven-inning distance for the Scorpions, allowed only three hits, struck out six. (Mortensen allowed four hits, struck out ten.) 2B Scott Frasier hit a sacrifice fly for the winning run for the Scorpions. SS Manny Estrada hit a home run to win the second game, and he drew a bases-loaded walk to send in the winning run in the third game. The Pilots visit William Carey April 18, host Texas Wesleyan April 20-21, and close their regular season at Division III Centenary April 24. -14. The Pilots lead the Red River Athletic Conference, and can clinch the pennant with one win against Texas Wesleyan.

The nine sites for the 2012 Opening Round tournaments will be:

The Opening Round tournaments will be played May 10-14. The nine winners and host Lewis-Clark State will make up the field for the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID May 25-June 1.

The fields for the Opening Round tournaments will be announced on May 6.