The NAIA's top 11 teams, and 12 of the top 13 teams, have started their seasons.
Oklahoma City started their season with four wins, two against Hastings, and two against Grand View. The Stars trailed the first game 1-0 going into the sixth inning of a seven-inning game. P Rich Hawkins tied it with a home run in the sixth, and SS Chris Munoz batted in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Hawkins went the distance, scattered six hits, struck out seven. Kirby Wells and and Addison Ives combined to hold the Stars to only three hits. The Stars visit Division II Central Oklahoma on Feb. 7, and host Missouri Baptist and Ottawa Feb. 10-12.
Concordia-Irvine (3-0) visits Division II Cal State-Los Angeles Feb. 8 and Division II Cal Poly Pomona Feb. 10. They host a double-header against Cal Poly Pomona, who are 4-0, in Feb. 11.
Lee swept three games against Talladega, 14-2, 4-1, and 2-1, and defeated Hiwassee (NCCAA) 11-0. Kris Hall, Patrick Merkling, Andy Hillis, and Mike Fasolo got the wins, and Fasolo combined with James Rechenbach and Kyle Briner for a one-hitter against Hiwassee. Blake Barber is batting .538 for the Flames. They host Tennessee Temple Feb. 7 and Shawnee State Feb. 10-11.
Lubbock Christian lost two of three to Northwood (TX) and lost to Texas Wesleyan. All four games were close. Kyle Forsyth was credited with the 10-8 win over Northwood; the Chaparrals scored seven runs in the eighth inning, led by a bases-loaded double by RF Benny Woodard. In the first loss to the Knights, Clayton Woodruff, Nick Harrison, and Colton Reavis combined to hold the Chaparrals to four hits. The next game went into extra innings, and the Knights won it on an RBI single by 1B Adam Humes. In the 3-2 loss to Texas Wesleyan, C Alex Padilla bunted with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Oklahoma transfer Nolan Barbee got the win for the Rams, but starter Derek Vaughn put in a strong performance; six innings, four hits, seven strikeouts. The Chaparrals host York Feb. 10-11. The Rams have started the season 4-0, and they visit Division III Mary Hardin-Baylor Feb. 7, host Tabor Feb. 9, and U. of the Southwest Feb. 10-11.
Embry-Riddle swept three games from Florida Memorial, 6-5 (11 innings), 12-0 (mercy rule) and 10-4. 1B Chris Page went 3-for-6 in the first game, hit a single off the wall in the bottom of the 11th to bat in the winning run. Chad Modomo pitched a four-hit shutout in the second game. CF Frankie Arias went 4-for-4 in the third game, and Kevin Maloney got the win. The Eagles visit Warner Feb. 10-11.
LSU-Shreveport started the season with three easy wins over William Carey. Things get tougher for the Pilots quickly; they travel to Jackson, MS Feb. 9-11 to play Southern Polytechnic, Cumberland, and Belhaven.
Cumberland won two of three at Brewton-Parker, winning 6-1, losing 4-2, and winning 1-0. Mike Mandarino pitched a five-hit shutout in the third game (CF/LF William Henderson singled in the only run of the game), but was only 1-for-9 at the plate for the series.
Faulkner started the season with a 4-3 (10 innings) win over Southeastern, and two wins over Webber International, 7-4 and 7-5. Zach Colby hit home runs to win the game against Southeastern, and the second game against Webber International. Matt Creel, Damon Porter, and Lyndon Eusea got the wins. The Eagles visit Division II West Alabama Feb. 8, and host Harris Stowe Feb. 11-12.
Okahoma Baptist started their season with a double-header sweep of Peru State. Steven Messner and Jesus Carlos combined for the shutout in the first game, and Daniel Baptista hit a two-run home run. Peru State led the second game 10-5 after 2 1/2 innings in the second game, but the Bobcats did themselves in with seven errors. The Bison host Culver-Stockton Feb. 10-11.
Biola started their season with a 9-2 win over La Sierra, and split a double-header with Division III La Verne, losing 7-6 in 10 innings, and winning 4-1. C Nick Coyveau, a transfer from Arizona Christian, had a big game in his first game for the Eagles against La Sierra; 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Nick Turner got the win. Jeff Grijalva started the first game against La Verne and went five innings, got a no-decision. Chris Baek got the win in the second game. The Eagles host Cal State-Los Angeles Feb. 7, Division II Cal State-San Bernardino Feb. 9, and visit Arizona Christian Feb. 10-11.
Fresno Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene both went 3-1 at the Arizona Desert Classic in Anthem, AZ. The Sunbirds got wins against Point Loma, Wayland Baptist, and Lewis-Clark State, and lost to College of Idaho. The Sea Lions lost to the Sunbirds, and defeated Lewis-Clark State, College of Idaho, and Wayland Baptist.
Belhaven got a mercy-rule win over Tougaloo, and split a double-header with LSU-Alexandria, 1-2 and 7-4. Jake Bell pitched a complete game for LSU-Alexandria in the first game, allowed three hits, struck out six. Four Blazer pitchers combined to hold the Generals to three hits in the second game; Brandon McHenry got the win.
More teams with good starts: Loyola-New Orleans is 6-0, Saint Thomas (FL) is 5-0, and Savannah College of Art and Design is 8-1.