Results from the second day of the NAIA Baseball Opening round:
At Hardeeville, SC:
South Carolina-Beaufort 7, Faulkner 3: The #5-ranked Eagles went two-and-out, and the Sand Sharks gave Corey Black his second loss of the season. The Sand Sharks scored five runs in the last two innings, and the winning run came on a pinch-hit RBI single by Blake Cilwick. Miles Galvin got the win for the Sand Sharks, struck out eleven. The Sand Sharks play Union U. (TN) on Saturday, and the winner plays Saint Thomas.
Saint Thomas (FL) 6, Union U. (TN) 3: The Bobcats go to 2-0 in the tournament. Pinch-hitter Oscar Romero hit a two-RBI single for the winning run.
At Paducah, KY:
LSU-Shreveport 1, Lindsey Wilson 0: Lindsey Wilson starter Darren Travers gave up a run in the first inning on an RBI single by 1B Greg Friesen, and held the Pilots scoreless the rest of the way. The Pilots needed a shutout from Jared Mortensen, and got one. Mortensen held the Blue Raiders to four hits, struck out ten, and walked only one. The Pilots will face the Peru State-Lindsey Wilson winner tomorrow for the championship.
At Daytona Beach, FL:
Embry-Riddle 2, Auburn-Montgomery 0: Four Eagles pitchers combined for the shutout, but starter Adam Palencu went seven innings, scattered eight hits. The Eagles got both of their runs in the first inning, on an RBI single by 1B Chris Page, and an RBI double by RF Ian MacGeorge. The Warhawks outhit the Eagles 9-5, but left 13 on base. Cody Hall went the distance for the Warhawks, got the loss. The Eagles play the Auburn-Montgomery-Siena Heights winner tomorrow for the championship.
At Kingsport, TN:
Tennessee Wesleyan 11, Indiana Tech 5: The Bulldogs play the Saint Francis (IL)-Indiana Tech winner tomorrow for the championship.
At Hutchinson, KS:
Rogers State 5, Oklahoma Baptist 4 (11 innings): 1B Cody Campbell batted in all five of the Hillcats' runs, including an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to send it into extra innings, and an RBI single in the bottom of the eleventh to upset the #7 Bison. Jesus Carlos got a blown save and his second loss of the season. The Hillcats play the Oklahoma Baptist-Tabor winner tomorrow for the championship.
At Azusa, CA:
College of Idaho 7, Menlo 0: The Oaks defeated the Coyotes two games out of three to win the NAIA West tournament, but Todd Griffiths pitched a complete-game shutout for the Coyotes in this one. He held the Oaks to five hits, struck out nine. Griffiths also went the distance in a 9-2 win over Menlo in the NAIA West tournament. SS Tanner Hodges batted in the winning run for the Coyotes in the first inning. The Coyotes are looking for their first appearance in the National Championship tournament since 2002.
Azusa Pacific 8, Arizona Christian 2: The #4 Cougars got 15 hits to stay alive. CF Matt Kimmel went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Zachary Hedges went eight innings, allowed six hits, struck out eight. The Cougars play Menlo in a loser-out game tomorrow, and the winner plays C. of Idaho for the championship.
At Marion, IN:
Concordia-Irvine 4, Taylor 2: The defending champions stayed alive with a complete game by Thomas Hoenshell, who scattered ten hits, and struck out eight. 3B Ryan DiMascio hit a two-RBI single for the winning run in the fourth inning. The Eagles play Doane in a loser-out game tomorrow, and the winner will play Point Park for the championship.
At Cleveland, TN:
Missouri Baptist 5, Lee 4: The #2 Flames were held to four hits by David Williams and Ben Dorman. The Spartans got three runs in the bottom of the seventh on a double by 1B Scott Krutel to win it.
The Flames play Avila in a loser-out game tomorrow. The winner plays the Spartans for the championship.
All of the action in the Oklahoma City bracket was postponed by weather.