Game Accounts

The NAIA Coaches' poll for April 10, 2012, with Boyd Nation's Iterative Strength Rating (ISR):

First place votes: LSU-Shreveport 17, Oklahoma City 1, Azusa Pacific 1

Azusa Pacific is #1 in Strength of Schedule

LSU-Shreveport (17-3 RRAC) swept Houston-Victoria 9-0, 3-1, and 8-0. Matt Lackie pitched a three-hit shutout in the first game, and Jared Mortensen pitched a seven-inning three-hit shutout in the third game, struck out eleven. Logan Norris nearly got a third shutout, but the Jaguars scored a run in the last inning. SS Manny Estrada hit a two-RBI triple. A scheduled game at Division II Southern Arkansas was rained out. Mortensen has an ERA of 1.09, third-best in the NAIA. The Pilots host Texas-Brownsville April 13-14. The Pilots have won 14 straight, and lead the Red River Athletic Conference; Texas-Brownsville is second with a with a 15-6 conference record.

Lee (21-3 SSAC) defeated Cumberland 6-3, and swept three games against Southern Polytechnic, 9-7, 6-5, and 7-0. 1B Roberto Reyes hit a grand slam home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth to win the first game against Southern Polytechnic. LF Mike Moore hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh of a seven-inning game for the winning run in the second game. Vince Spilker, Kyle Briner, and Andy Hillis combined for the shutout in the third game; 2B Blake Barber batted in three runs. The Flames host Tennessee Wesleyan April 11, and Auburn-Montgomery April 13-14. The Flames and #4 Faulkner continue to be tied for the Southern States Athletic Conference lead.

Oklahoma City (18-3 SAC) won two of three games against Rogers State, 5-3, 1-3, and 6-5 (eight innings, scheduled for seven). SS Chris Muñoz scored the winning run in the first game on a sacrifice fly by RF Dane Phillips; Muñoz went 3-for-4 with a home run. Brandon Bargas went the distance for the Hillcats in the second game, held the Stars to five hits, struck out ten. All three of the Hillcats' runs came on a home run by 2B Hector Rivera in the third inning, and Bargas had a shutout going into the seventh. 1B Miguel Beltran batted in the winning run with a fielder's choice in the third game; Patrick Goelz, who held the Hillcats scoreless over the last 2 2/3 innings, got the win in relief. The Stars host Oklahoma Christian April 12 and 14, and visit Oklahoma Christian April 13. The Stars lead the Sooner Athletic Conference; #x Oklahoma Baptist is in second place with a 13-5 record.

Faulkner (21-3 SSAC) swept three games against Mobile, 5-4, 3-1, and 4-2. Corey Black went the distance in the first game. He allowed only two hits in the first eight innings, and went into the ninth inning with a 5-1 lead. This lead evaporated, and Black had to strike out the final batter (with three pitches) with the bases loaded to preserve the win. C Matt Darr hit an RBI single for the winning run in the second game, and 2B Daniel Cayton hit an RBI single for the winning run in the third game. Black has an ERA of 0.91, lowest in the NAIA. The Eagles visit Southern Polytechnic April 13-14.

Azusa Pacific (21-3 GSAC) split a double-header at Arizona Christian, losing 5-2, and winning 1-0. The Cougars were held to three hits in the first game by Chris Freudenberg and Lucas Hicks. Jacob Cage pitched a seven-inning shutout in the second game, but the Cougars were out-hit 4-3; the sole run of the game came on an RBI single by DH J.C. Aguayo in the fifth inning. Dylan Waugh went the distance for the Firestorm and got the three-hit loss. The Cougars then swept four games against San Diego Christian, 6-4, 2-0, 13-9, and 17-8. Jordan Leyland ran his record to 7-0 in the first game. Michael Finnigan went the distance for the shutout in the second game, struck out ten. Leyland hit home runs in each of the first two games, has 17 on the season. The Cougars don't play again until April 17, when they host Division II Cal Poly-Pomona. The Cougars lead the Golden State Athletic Conference; #11 Concordia is second with a 15-8 record.

Embry-Riddle (17-4 The Sun Conference) lost two of three to South Carolina-Beaufort, losing 3-1, winning 9-4, and losing 9-2. Both starters went the distance in the first game, and Michael Heesch got the best of the pitchers' duel; Daniel Eaton got the loss. Adam Paulencu and Eric Green combined to hold the Sand Sharks to six hits in the second game. LF Ty Main went 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI for the Sand Sharks in the third game. The scheduled game against the Class A Daytona Cubs was rained out. The Eagles visit Saint Thomas April 13-14. The Eagles lead The Sun Conference, and Saint Thomas is second with a 14-6 record.

Okahoma Baptist (14-5 SAC) won two of three at Wayland Baptist, 14-1, 4-6, and 10-3. LF Michael Sliger hit a three-run home run in the first game. The Bison out-hit the Pioneers 6-5 in the second game, but the Pioneers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth (of a seven-inning game) on a two-RBI by RF Ben Christian and an RBI on a bunt by CF Colton Palmer to win it. Chad Hardison got the win in the third game, struck out nine. The Bison also defeated Saint Gregory's 3-2 (13 innings). Jesus Carlos pitched six innings of hitless relief for the win, struck out eight. C Mitchell Prophet batted in all three Bison runs. The Bison host #14 Lubbock Christian April 13-14. Streaming video is available for Bison home games.

Tennessee Wesleyan (14-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) swept three games at Point, 7-2, 5-0, and 6-2. Josh Cullers pitched a one-hit shutout in the second game, struck out ten. SS Stephen Branca hit three home runs in the series. The Bulldogs visit #2 Lee April 11, host Bryan April 13, and play a neutral site game against Bryan April 14.

Lewis-Clark State (18-5 NAIA West) won three of four against Concordia-Portland, losing the first game 7-2, and winning the next three 3-2 (ten innings), 14-2, and 19-3. Larson Kohler went the distance for the Cavaliers in the first game, threw 170 pitches, struck out seven, one of them to end the eighth inning with the bases loaded. The Warriors had to come from behind in the second game, tying it in the eighth inning with an RBI double by SS Trent Bridges and an RBI on a ground out by DH Braxton Miller. 1B Eric Peterson drew a walk in the bottom of the tenth with the bases loaded to win it. The Warriors visit Oregon Tech April 14-16.

Point Park lost three of four against Malone, and split a double-header with Clarion. Jared Messer pitched a seven-inning shutout for Walsh, struck out ten. The Pioneers visit Walsh April 13, and host Walsh April 14.