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.
Union U. got into the Opening Round by winning the TranSouth Conference tournament. They are #18 in the ISR. The Bulldogs will play Saint Thomas (FL) in the second round. The Eagles will play either South Carolina-Beaufort or Asbury.
Irwin is 9-2, 2.40 ERA with 60 strikeouts on the season. At the plate, he is hitting .226, with 27 RBI.
Story from Union U. site: Union baseball upsets fifth ranked Faulkner in NAIA opening round bracket play
Menlo 11, Azusa Pacific 7 (at Azusa, CA): CF Mickey Phelps hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning for the winning run, and DH James Threw added a two-run home run. James Jensen got the win for the Oaks. C Ty Finley went 2-for-five with two doubles and three RBI for the Oaks.
Menlo, ranked #56 in the ISR, will face College of Idaho, who they defeated two games out of three in the NAIA West tournament, in the second round. Azusa Pacific will face either Shorter or Arizona Christian. The Cougars were 1-1 against Arizona Christian during the regular season.
Doane 4, Concordia-Irvine 3 (at Marion, IN): The defending champion Eagles had a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth, but Doane got two hits off Eagles starter Brent Clapper. Clapper was replaced by Sean Buford, who gave up a walk to load the bases. He threw a wild pitch, allowing 2B A.J. Spanel to score the tying run. RF Mike Albert then stole home to win it.
Nathan Roth, who faced only one batter, got the win. LF Aalex Arkfeld went 3-for-3 for the Tigers.
Story from Concordia site: Eagles Lose Lead Late In Opening Round Opener v. Doane