San Diego Christian

Seven of the nine Opening Round brackets were decided today, and two “if necessary” games will be played on Monday, May 13.

Sterlingwas the first team to qualify for this year's National Championship tournament. They won the Oklahoma City bracket by defeating Oklahoma City 1-0 in the final. Steven Cazares pitched a three-hit shutout for the Warriors. The only run of the game came on an RBI single by C Ian Josh in the second inning.

The Warriors got to the final by defeating Science and Arts of Oklahoma8-5, and Jamestown13-3. DH Andrew Clark hit a grand slam home run against USAO; Daniel Cloteaux got the win, despite allowing 13 hits and walking four in six inning of work (story). The Warriors got six runs in the first inning against Jamestown, led by a bases-loaded triple by 3B Anthony Feliciano. Feliciano, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, had a total of six RBI for the game. The Warriors used four pitchers, gave up 14 hits (story).

This will be Sterling's first-ever appearance in the National Championship tournament. The school is located in Sterling, KS. It has 674 students, and supports 16 varsity sports.

It wasn't pretty, but five Biola pitchers combined for a 6-0 no-hitter against The Master's, giving the Eagles the series win, and their first no-hitter since 1970.

Josh Staumont pitched the first 5 1/3 innings for the Eagles, got the win. He struck out three, walked five. The next pitcher, Garrett Picha, faced only one batter. He walked him, and threw a wild pitch while doing it. He was relieved by Erick Allen, who went 2 1/3 innings. Javier Martinez came in with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and a ground ball to third base was scored as an error, the only one of the game. Martinez got a fly out to end the inning, and struck out the first batter in the bottom of the ninth. Will Emerson recorded a fly out and a strikeout to complete the no-hitter.

C Nick Oddo went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI for the Eagles. 1B Sage Poland singled in the winning run in the second inning. Eagles Head Coach John Verhoeven didn't realize that his team got a no-hitter until ten minutes after the game was over.

Story from Biola site: Five Biola Pitchers Combine to No-Hit The Master's

The Eagles and Mustangs traded 2-0 shutouts on Saturday. A.J. Work and Daniel Sheaffer combined for the shutout for the Mustangs in the first game, Nick Turner and Javier Martinez combined for the shutout for the Eagles in the second game.

LHP Cole Swanson, a transfer from San Diego State (he pitched 26 1/3 innings for the Aztecs last year, struck out 21), got the start for Concordia-Irvine's season opener, and he delivered a complete-game one-hitter against Arizona Christian. He struck out 14. The one hit was a two-run home run by 1B Ryan Jones in the seventh inning. The final score was 4-2. The winning run for the Eagles came on an RBI single by LF Dylan Bryant in the fifth inning. 1B Bryan Garza completed the Eagles' scoring with a home run in the sixth.

#1 Cumberlandhas started the season 0-7. They had a midweek loss at #23 Tennessee Wesleyan, 13-7, then got swept at home by #9 Missouri Baptist, 5-3 (10 innings), 13-5, and 7-3. 3B Ridge Hoopi-Haslam was the star for Tennessee Wesleyan; he went 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple, four RBI, and three runs scored. In the first game against Missouri Baptist, Bulldogs starter Jake Collier had a shoutout going into the ninth inning, but gave up a two-run home run by pinch-hitter Timothy Cusick to send it into extra innings. RF Eli Roundtree hit an RBI single in the top of the tenth for the winning run. Story The defending champions led the second game 5-0 after three innings, but the Spartans put it away with a five-run sixth inning, led by a two-RBI single by 2B Aaron Collazo. Randy Wynne got the win in relief for the Spartans; he allowed only one hit over the final 5 1/3 innings, struck out five. The winning run in the third game game on a two-RBI double by SS Brent Zimmerman in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs visit Bethel Feb. 17, and host Judson Feb. 21-22 (video).

Missouri Baptist is now 9-0. The Spartans host the Clayton Pfeiffer Invitational Tournament Feb. 20-21, with Saint Francis (IN) and non-NAIA Morthland.

#2 Lewis-Clark Statewent 5-2 on their California tour, with wins over San Diego Christian,9-4 and 7-6, #18 Concordia-Irvine7-3, Cal State San Marcos8-3, and non-NAIA Bethesda 7-5. They lost to Cal State San Marcos 10-3, and Concordia-Irvine 4-3. In the first game against San Diego Christian, the Warriors were held to one run over the first seven innings by Anthony Carrizosa, but erupted for seven runs in the top of the ninth off three different Hawks relievers. The Hawks had only five hits. Starter Ty Jackson went five innings, allowed three runs on two hits, struck out seven, got a no-decision. Nick Sagendorf got the win, pitched the final two innings, struck out four of the six batters he faced. The Warriors had a 6-0 lead in the second game after four innings, but the Hawks answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors got the winning run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by C Julian Ramon. The Hawks made it a one-run game when 1B Luke Bando reached on an error, allowing pinch-runner Gordy Smith to score. However, they left the tying run on third, and the winning run on first. Story SS Max Whitt his a grand slam home run in the win over Concordia, and 1B Seth Brown also hit a home run. Beau Kerns pitched a complete nine-inning game in the win over Cal State San Marcos, and 3B Michael Sexton went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBI. 3B Robert Smith Jr. went 4-for-4 with a three-run home run and five RBI against Bethesda, and his two-RBI single in the top of the ninth provided the winning run.

Starter Addison Domingo got the win for Cal State San Marcos. He held the Warriors to one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, struck out seven. DH L.A. Gamo batted in five of the Cougars' runs, went 2-for-3 and drew two walks. In the loss to Concordia, the Warriors out-hit the Eagles 10-4, but the Eagles got two runs on a home run by DH Dane Vande Guchte, and runs on an RBI single by CF Mitchell Esser and a sacrifice fly by C Neil Lawhorn. Starter Robbie Ingram got the win, allowed one earned run over seven innings.

#9 Missouri Baptist(#1 according to Perfect Game) had four scheduled games canceled. They will play in a tournament at Campbellsville Feb. 26-28, against Campbellsville and Saint Francis (IN), but it's not clear if those games will happen, either (video).

#1 Cumberlandhad five scheduled games canceled. They are scheduled to host Freed-Hardeman Feb. 24 (video), visit #6 Georgia Gwinnett Feb. 25, and host Marygrove, a new baseball program, Feb. 27-28 (video). Marygrove also lost some games to weather, so the series at Cumberland will be their first-ever baseball games.

#2 Lewis-Clark Statesplit four games with Division II Western Oregon, 11-0, 4-6, 8-4, and 0-5. Beau Kerns pitched a complete game shutout in the first game. He allowed six hits, recorded nine strikeouts. It was his third straight complete game, and he has an ERA of 1.00. 2B Cabe Reiten and 1B Seth Brown both hit three-run home runs. Reiten also hit a double, and was 3-for-4. C Chadwick Ka'alekahi was also 3-for-4 with a double. Story The Wolves led the second game the entire way, starting with a two-RBI double by LF Matt Taylor in the first inning. Reiten went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the third game, and he has had at least one hit in every game the Warriors have played this year. Story Michael Bennett, Shawn Domke, and Jacob Storedahl combined for the shutout in the fourth game. Three of the Wolves' runs came on a mis-played popup by Taylor. Story

The Warriors are now 10-5. They don't play again until March 7, when they host Corban.

#9 Missouri Baptistsplit a double-header with Bryanat the beginning of the week, 4-3 and 3-4. The loss in the second game was their first of the season. The Spartans were outhit 8-5 in the first game, but they got two unearned runs, and a two-RBI single by DH Aaron Pangilinan. The second game was tied 2-2 going into the seventh and final inning. 2B Cody Rhinehart hit a two-RBI single in the top of the ninth to win it. RB Eli Roundtree hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, but Lions reliever Zeke Colby recorded a strikeout to end it. Colby got the win; he and starter RHP Hunter Tipton held the Spartans to five hits. Story

The Spartans lost six games to weather. The host Missouri Valley March 3, and Lindenwood-Belleville March 6-7.

The Lions are 15-4, and two of their pitchers, Francisco Colin and Kenny Knudsen, have pitched no-hitters this season. They also lost games to weather, but replaced them with games against Division III Covenant, which they won, 5-1 and 5-2. Knudsen went the seven-inning distance in the second game, allowed four hits. He leads the NAIA with 46 strikeouts, and has an ERA of 0.56. The Lions host Judson March 2-3, and visit Point March March 6-7.

#2 Lewis-Clark Statewas off this week. They host Corban in a non-conference series March 7-8. (audio)

#3 Oklahoma Wesleyangot a pair of mid-week wins over Division II Rogers State, 7-1 and 7-5, then lost four scheduled games to weather. SS Avery Flores went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the first game against Rogers State. In the second game, 3B Zair Koeiman hit a two-RBI double for the winning run. Three Eagles pitchers held the Hillcats to four hits, but the Hillcats got two unearned runs on three errors by the Eagles. The Eagles host #4 Oklahoma Baptist March 3, and visit Bethany March 6-7.

RHP Keegan Yuhl, a transfer from Lee, pitched a no-hitter for #9 Concordia-Irvine in a 9-0 non-conference win over Antelope Valley. Yuhl threw 115 pitches, struck out 12, walked three. Story from Concordia-Irvine: Keegan Yuhl Throws First No-Hitter In Concordia History. The story includes three video clips; scroll down to see them. Box score.

The Eagles didn't just get a no-hitter and a three game sweep of Antelope Valley; all three games were shutouts, and the Eagles allowed only four hits for the series.

#12 The Master's won two of three at #22 San Diego Christian in a Golden State Athletic Conference matchup of two teams that were previously undefeated. The scores were 4-2, 8-11, and 3-1. The Mustangs got three runs on the top of the ninth inning to win the first game; 1B Josh Brown hit a two-RBI single to bring in the winning run. Jason Karkenny pitched two perfect innings to get the win in relief. 3B Jeff Lusardi hit a home run, a double, and five RBI for the Hawks in the second game. RHP Tucker Richardson pitched a seven-inning gem for the Mustangs in the third game; three hits, nine strikeouts, one walk. He was one out short of a shutout; Lusardi hit a home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The Mustangs visit Concordia-Irvine Feb. 7-8. The Hawks host #16 Cal State San Marcos Feb. 8.

The split between The Master's and San Diego Christian enabled Vanguard to take over first place in the GSAC. The Lions swept three games against Arizona Christian, 3-2, 4-2, and 2-1. The Lions were held to three hits by Ismael Castro in the first game, but all three Lions runs were unearned. CF Thomas Mobley hit a two-RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to win the second game. Scott Torrey went the seven-inning distance for the Lions in the third game, didn't allow an earned run, allowed four hits, struck out six. The Lions visit Westmont Feb. 7-8. Live video

British Columbia 1, Vanguard 0
Davenport 4, The Master's 0
San Diego Christian 12, British Columbia 2

British Columbia 1, Vanguard 0

RF Jerod Bartnik led off the eighth inning with a home run off RHP Clayton Voechting for the only run of the game. Voechting had struck out the side in the previous inning, and the home run was only the second hit he had allowed.

LHP Conor Lillis-White, LHP Sean Callegari, and RHP Matt Thornton combined for the shutout, and allowed a total of six hits; Callegari got the win. However, much of the credit should go to the Thunderbirds' defense, which has traditionally been among the best in the NAIA. The Thunderbirds and second in the NAIA with a fielding percentage of .975. (The Master's is first, at .978.)

The Thunderbirds had a double play in the first inning. 2B Matt Spillman made a good defensive play to prevent a run from scoring in the third inning. CF Bryan Arthur robbed 1B Ian Sakry of a hit in the fifth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, a bunt attempt with runners at first and second with nobody out resulted in a force out at third. C Brody Hawkins caught courtesy runner Justin Davis attempting to steal third for the second out of the inning, then threw out Sakry attempting to steal second to end the inning. Callegari picked off a baserunner at first in the eighth inning.

The NAIA Coaches' Poll for April 1, 2014, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

First place votes:Faulkner 19, Oklahoma Baptist 1, Lewis-Clark State 1
Lewis-Clark State is #1 in Strength of Schedule

#1 Faulknerwon two of three against #25 Mobile, 3-6, 12-0, and 11-3. Both starters, Jeff Price for the Rams and Thomas Dorminy for the Eagles, went the seven-inning distance in the first game. Price allowed two earned runs on eight hits. Price was helped by double plays in the fifth and sixth innings, and the defending champions left the bases loaded in the seventh. The winning run was the result of two walks and two wild pitches. The win was the 800th at Mobile for Head Coach Mike Jacobs. Story Jeremy Holcombe and Vinny Lujan combined for a mercy-rule-shortened shutout in the second game. The Blazers got eight runs from walks, hit batters, and errors. SS Dauris Holguin went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI in the third game. Kurt Lipscomb pitched six shutout innings, allowed four hits.

The Eagles visit #16 Brewton-Parker April 4-5.

#2 Oklahoma Baptistwon two of three over Wayland Baptist, 9-0, 2-1, and 5-6. Julian Merryweather pitched the complete-game shutout in the first game, allowed three hits, struck out nine. CF Joey Szczepanski went 2-for-2 with two RBI, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. The Bison won the second game on and RBI single by C Mason Ankeney in the bottom of the seventh of a seven-inning game. Jordan Morales went the distance, allowed six hits; Morales is 7-0 for the season. 2B Braden Blackwell scored the winning run in the top of the ninth in the third game for the Pioneers on a throwing error. The Bison left the tying run on third in the bottom of the ninth. Cachot Duncan got the win in relief for the Pioneers. He pitched the final four innings, alowed one run (unearned) on one hit.

The Bison then defeated #12 Tabor6-5 on a home run by 2B Ridge Hoopii-Haslam in the bottom of the ninth. The Bluejays led 5-2 after three innings, but Jinny Parra took over on the mound for the Bison, and allowed only two hits the rest of the way; he struck out eight.

The Pioneers continue to lead the Sooner Athletic Conference. #10 Oklahoma City is one game behind, and the Bison are 1 ½ games behind. The Bison visit Texas Wesleyan April 4-5.

The NAIA Coaches' Poll for April 8, 2014, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking. Locations for the Opening Round tournaments appear at the end of this article.

First place votes:Oklahoma Baptist 12, Lewis-Clark State 5, Faulkner 2, Georgia Gwinnett 1
Westmont (ISR #5) is #1 in Strength of Schedule

#1 Oklahoma Baptistdefeated Division II East Central 23-4, and swept Mid America Christian, 15-2, 15-1, and 11-0. All four games were mercy-ruled. Move along, folks, nothing to see here.

Matt Page has batted in 57 runs for the Bison, and Page and Steven Knudson have hit nine home runs apiece. The Bison now lead the Sooner Athletic Conference by ½ game over #10 Oklahoma City. The Bison visit Southwestern Assemblies of God April 17-18.

#2 Lewis-Clark State swept Simpson, 14-0, 9-4, 15-6, and 13-1. Not much to see here, either; Simpson is 1-39, and the first and fourth games were mercy-ruled. Michael Noteware and J.T. Kaul combined for the shutout in the first game. The second game was tied 3-3 after seven innings, but the Warriors pulled away with four runs in the eighth inning. An RBI double by pinch-hitter Chris Walker brought in the winning run. Carsen Nylund got the win.

Noteware's record is 5-0, 0.88 ERA, 53 K. The Warriors have have won 14 straight, and have clinched the NAIA West pennant. (They don't compete in the NAIA West tournament.) The Warriors concluded their home season against a good Corban team (ISR #19) April 18-19.

The NAIA Coaches' Poll for April 22, 2014, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

First place votes:Oklahoma Baptist 18, Faulkner 2, Lewis-Clark State 1
#7 San Diego Christian is #1 in Strength of Schedule

#1 Oklahoma Baptist swept Southwestern Assemblies of God, 17-0, 6-2, and 14-0. Jordan Morales, Tallen Parker, and Jeff Gunter combined for the shutout in the first game. Morales got the win (he is 10-0, 1.96 ERA for the season), pitched five innings, allowed three hits, struck out six. Jinny Parra got the win in the second game. RHP Julian Merryweather and Andrew Millner got the mercy-rule-shortened shutout in the third game. Merryweather pitched six innings, allowed two hits, struck out six. 3B Garrett Roberts went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.

The Bison have won ten straight, and lead the Sooner Athletic Conference by 2½ games over #14 Oklahoma City and Wayland Baptist. The Bison visit Saint Gregory's April 24 and 26, end their home season against Saint Gregory's April 25 ( Live video), and end their regular season against now-Division II Rogers State April 29 in Tulsa.

#2 Faulkner completed their season sweep of #6 Georgia Gwinnett, winning the third game of the season 5-4. The defending champions led 3-0 after four innings, and 5-1 after seven, but the Grizzles scored three runs in the top of the ninth to make it interesting. The Grizzlies had the tying run on third, but Kurt Lipscomb got a strikeout to end it. Jay Gause got the win, pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowed a run on four hits, struck out 11.SS Dauris Holguin went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

The Eagles won two of three at Southern Wesleyan, 5-3, 8-1, and 6-7. In the first game, each team scored three runs in the first inning, but Jeremy Holcombe and Patrick McGrady held the Warriors off the board the rest of the way. RF Michael Cruz scored the winning run on a ground out; he was 1-for-4 with three RBI for the game. Thomas Dorminy got the win in the second game, pitched five innings, allowed no runs on two hits. The Eagles led the third game 6-1 going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Warriors came up with six runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it. The comeback was led by a bases-loaded triple by CF Michael Hyman. Two hit batters and a walk tied it, and 1B Stephen Wyatt scored the winning run on a bunt single by SS J.J. Julian. Matt Craig Went the distance for the Warriors, recorded seven strikeouts.

Robert Llera is batting .442 for the Eagles. The Eagles lead the Southern States Athletic Conference by 1 1/2 games over #15 Southern Polytechnic, and two games over #10 Brewton-Parker. The Eagles host Martin Methodist April 24-25. Live video

#3 Lewis-Clark State won three of four against Corban(ISR #21), 0-5, 4-3 (13 innings), 5-2, and 12-4. Jacob Kopra pitched the shutout for Corban in the first game. He allowed five hits, struck out one, and walked three. He is 9-0, 1.44 ERA, 64 K, and this was his third shutout of the season. 1B Daniel Orr hit a sacrifice fly for the winning run in the first inning, went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI for the game. Corban led the second game 3-1 after five innings, but were kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way by Gunnar Swanson (4 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 8 K) and David Murillo (3 2/3 IP, 3 hits, 7 K); Murillo got the win. Two of his strikeouts came after he entered the game with one out in the top of the tenth, and runners at second and third. L-C State tied it with two runs in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by C Jake Shirley and a sacrifice fly by CF Ryan Sells. Sells scored the winning run on a wild pitch. Corban won a 15-inning game against British Columbia the previous weekend. Story Corban out-hit L-C State in the third game 8-7, but three of L-C State's hits were two home runs and a triple by RF Cody Lavalli; he batted in two runs, and scored two more. Beau Kerns got the win in relief, pitched four innings, allowed no runs on two hits. Sells went 2-for-3 in the fourth game with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored.

Lavalli has 11 home runs, which ties him with four other players for fifth-best in the NAIA. (Forrest Smith of Oklahoma City leads the NAIA with 15.) L-C State visits Division II Northwest Nazarene April 24-26, and plays a non-league game at nearby C. of Idaho (ISR #23) April 27. Corban finished in a three-way tie for third place with C. of Idaho and Concordia-Portland in NAIA West; the NAIA West tournament will be in Vancouver May 2-5.

The NAIA Coaches' Poll for April 29, 2014, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

First place votes:Oklahoma Baptist 19, Faulkner 1, Lewis-Clark State 1
#7 San Diego Christian is #1 in Strength of Schedule

#1 Oklahoma Baptist swept Saint Gregory's, 18-11, 12-4, and 16-5. The first game was closer than the score indicates; both teams had twelve hits, and the Bison didn't put it away until they scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning. CF Joey Szczepanski went 4-for-6 with a three-run home run, five RBI, and four runs scored. 1B Steven Knudson hit two home runs in the second game, batted in three runs. Julian Merryweather got the win, went eight innings, allowed four runs on ten hits. Knudson got another home run in the third game, went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Jinny Parra got the win, allowed four runs on six hits, struck out seven. Parra's record is 6-1, 1.99 ERA.

The Bison then defeated now-Division II Rogers State 3-2 in twelve innings. Szczepanski hit an RBI double for the winning run in the 12th. Frankie Wright, who allowed one hit over the last two innings, got the win. Szczepanski had another double, was 3-for-6 for the game.

Merryweather is 9-2, 1.39 ERA, 91 K. The Bison have won 15 straight, and they won the Sooner Athletic Conference pennant. They are co-hosting the SAC tournament May 2-5. Live video The Bison play Mid-America Christian in the first round. #16 Oklahoma City plays Southwestern Assemblies of God.

#2 Lewis-Clark State dropped their first game against Division II Northwest Nazarene 11-10, then won the remaining three games 12-5, 9-0, and 1-0. The Warriors were charged with four errors in the first game. The Crusaders got the winning run on a sacrifice fly by CF Josh Hatfield in the eighth inning; Hatfield had three RBI's for the game. Aaron Vaughn got the win for the Crusaders, despite giving up eight earned runs on 14 hits over eight innings. The Warriors didn't over the second game until the seventh inning, when they scored four runs, two of them on a single by RF Cody Lavalli. CF Ryan Sells went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Ty Jackson and Nick Lemoncelli combined for the shutout in the third game. They allowed two hits apiece, and Lemoncelli struck out five in three innings of work. Lavalli, 1B Jacob Cano, and LF Zach Holley hit home runs. The only run of the fourth game came from an RBI double by DH Jake Shirley in the top of the ninth. The Crusaders loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but David Murillo got a strikeout to end the game. Shirley was 4-for-5 for the game. J.T. Kaul, Beau Kerns, Joe Mello, and Murillo combined for the shutout; Mello got the win.

The Warriors finished the weekend with a 2-1 win in a non-conference game at nearby C. of Idaho. The Warriors' only runs came from a two-run home run by Jackson, playing first base in this one. Cody Chartrand got the win, went five innings, allowed a run on five hits. Gunnar Swanson and Michael Noteware held the Coyotes hitless the rest of the way.

Lavalli has 13 home runs, which ties him with seven other players, including Knudson of Oklahoma Baptist and Ruiz of Oklahoma Wesleyan, for second-best in the NAIA. (Forrest Smith of Oklahoma City leads the NAIA with 16.) The Warriors visit Division II Western Oregon May 2 and 4, and visit Linfield, ranked #1 in Division III, May 3.

The NAIA Coaches' Poll for April 1, 2014, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

First place votes:Oklahoma Baptist 11, Lewis-Clark State 5, Faulkner 4, Georgia Gwinnett 1
Westmont (ISR #6) is #1 in Strength of Schedule

#1 Oklahoma Baptistwon two of three at Texas Wesleyan, 3-4, 13-1, and 13-0. The Rams took advantage of five Bison errors to score three unearned runs in the first game. Sam Martin went the seven-inning distance for the Rams, allowed six hits, walked four. Martin is 6-1, 2.17 ERA. C Garrett Gallacher went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a double in the second game. He is batting .444 for the Bison. Jordan Morales got the win, went five innings, allowed three hits, struck out five. He is 8-0, 2.03 ERA. Kelvin Rivas and Andrew Milner combined for a mercy-rule-shortened no-hitter in the third game. Rivas pitched the first five innings, struck out four and walked two. Milner retired all six batters that he faced, struck out four of them. RF Tyler Melton went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI.

Wayland Baptist continues to lead the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Bison are 1 ½ games behind, and #12 Oklahoma City is two games behind. The Bison visit Division II East Central April 9, host Mid America Christian April 10 and 12, and visit Mid America Christian April 11.

#2 Lewis-Clark State swept Concordia-Portland (ISR #21), 7-4, 6-0, 8-7 (10 innings), and 14-6. The Warriors got away with five errors in the first game; only one of the Cavaliers' runs was earned. The game was tied 3-3 after three innings, but Steve Thompson held the Cavaliers to two hits in a five-inning relief appearance, got the win. CF Ryan Sells hit an RBI single for the winning run. Michael Noteware pitched eight shutout innings in the second game, scattered seven hits, struck out seven. Noteware is 4-0, 0.99 ERA, 48 K. The Warriors trailed the third game 6-0 after 2 ½ innings, but tied it with six runs in the bottom of the third. RF Cody Lavalli hit the second pitch of the tenth inning over the left field fence to win it. The fourth game was tied 4-4 at the seventh-inning stretch, but LF Tariq Staton hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh to break it open.

The Warriors have opened up a three-game lead over British Columbia (ISR #2) in NAIA West. The Warriors visit Simpson April 12-13.

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

NAIA coaches' poll for March 31, 2015, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

The NAIA Coaches' poll for May 5, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking. Recap below.