Tabor

The Jarvis Christian Bulldogs (6-4) and the Tabor Bluejays (2-1, ranked #10 pre-season) split two seven-inning games. The Bulldogs won the first game 9-7, and the Bluejays won the nightcap 6-3.

First game:The Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. RF Christopher White got it started with a one-out single. 2B Alex Garcia walked, then CF DeAndre McGuire laid down a good bunt. So good that Tabor 3B Kyle James had to rush the throw to first. It was off-target, and the result was, McGuire got two RBI on the bunt. McGuire then scored The next batter, 1B Carlos Andrade, walked. DH C.J. Tyler hit an infield single, then LF Spencer Thomas hit a three-run home run.

The Bluejays got two back in the top of the fourth, on RBI singles by DH Blake Standiford and James. C Braxon Byfield hit a sacrifice fly on a good turn at bat in the top of the fifth. The Bulldogs got a run in the bottom of the first when McGuire singled, then scored when a fly ball hit by Thomas was dropped. That made the score 7-3 for the Bulldogs.

The Bluejays tied it in the top of the sixth. 1B Colton Flax hit a leadoff double, and scored when CF Brent McClure hit another double. McClure scored on a single by James. James stole second, then scored on a single by SS Abdiel Alicea (San Juan, Puerto Rico). He scored on a single by RF Jordan Harris, on a good at-bat.

Schedule for the first two days of the 59^th NAIA Baseball National Championship, Friday-Saturday, May 22-23, Harris Field, Lewiston, ID (all times PDT):

9 AM: #7 seed Lindsey Wilson (41-17) vs. #10 Vanguard (38-20)

Lindsey Wilson (Columbia, KY) is making their first appearance at the Baseball National Championship.
Nickname:Blue Raiders
Rankings: Unranked in coaches' poll, #31 in ISR. Strength of schedule: #105
Quality wins:2-1 vs. Auburn-Montgomery, 1-1 vs. Faulkner, 2-1 vs. Campbellsville, 2-1 vs. Tennessee Wesleyan
Top position players: RF Alex Bautista (.383, 19 HR, 72 RBI), 3B Ryan Harper (.400). Bautista's 72 RBI is fourth-best in the NAIA.
Top pitchers: LHP Scott Sebald (10-3, 1.07 ERA), LHP Ryan Hartman (10-2, 2.04 ERA, 103 K)
Coach: Jonathan Burton, fourth season
Outlook: Happy to be here.

Vanguard (Costa Mesa, CA) is making their second appearance at the Baseball National Championship; the first one was in 1985.
Nickname:Lions
Rankings: Unranked in coaches' poll, #16 in ISR. SoS: #12
Quality wins:4-2 vs. Westmont, British Columbia, Northwestern Ohio
Top position players: OF Brandon Sandoval (.291, 36 stolen bases), SS Jose Rojas (.333, 12 HR, 57 RBI), OF Paul Keating (.330)
Top pitchers:RHP Sean Isaac (9-5, 2.91 ERA, 92 K), RHP Scott Torrey (6-1, 3.07 ERA)
Coach: Rob Pegg, third season
Outlook: The Lions play in the very competitive Golden State Athletic Conference, and got to the National Championship by winning the toughest Opening Round bracket. They should do better than their #10 seeding, but won't be championship contenders.

Noon: #8 Concordia-Irvine (47-16) vs. #9 Saint Thomas (44-16)

Concordia-Irvine (CA) is making their third appearance at the Baseball National Championship. (It will be their final appearance; they are moving to Division II next year.) They won the championship in 2011.
Nickname:Eagles
Rankings: #19 in coaches' poll, #2 in ISR. SoS: #3 (highest in tournament)
Quality wins: 1-1 vs. Oklahoma City, 1-1 vs. Lewis-Clark State, 6-1 vs. Vanguard
Top position players: SS Ryan Goodman (.314), OF Robert Shiroky (.292), OF Mitchell Esser (.312, 52 RBI)
Top pitchers: RHP Tyler Mark (5-1, 1.30 ERA, 64 K), RHP Dillon Moran (9-4, 3.63 ERA, 64 K), RHP Isaiah Terrazas (6-2, 2.61 ERA). Mark has 23 saves, the most in the NAIA.
Coach: Mike Grahovac, seventh season
Outlook: The Eagles won the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament, and split with #1 Oklahoma City in the Opening Round to make it here. They should be a contender for the championship.

Saint Thomas (Miami Gardens, FL) is making their fifth appearance at the Baseball National Championship; the last one was in 2007.
Nickname:Bobcats
Rankings: #20 in coaches' poll, #22 in ISR. SoS: #25
Quality wins:2-1 vs. Northwood, 2-1 vs. Georgia Gwinnett, Westmont
Top position players:1B Eric Santamaria (.374, 53 RBI), 3B Paul Chacin (Maracuabo, Venezuela; .335, 69 RBI), LF Jerry Downs (.348, 7 HR, 51 RBI)
Top pitchers:RHP Marcos Barrios (9-2, 3.63 ERA, 78 K), RHP Alex Hernandez (3-1, 2.93 ERA, 43 K). RHP Chris Rodriguez (2-0, 3.00 ERA, 26 K, 12 saves)
Coach: Jorge Perez, sixth season
Outlook:The Bobcats are happy to be here.

The NAIA coaches' poll for March 10. Recaps below.

NAIA coaches' poll for March 17, 2015. Recaps below.

NAIA coaches' poll for March 24, 2015, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

Oklahoma Baptist received all 21 first place votes.

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