Game Accounts

The NAIA Coaches' poll for April 17, 2012, with Boyd Nation's Iterative Strength Rating (ISR):

First place votes: LSU-Shreveport 18, Azusa Pacific 2

Azusa Pacific is #1 in Strength of Schedule

LSU-Shreveport (19-4 RRAC) won two of three close games against Texas-Brownsville, 1-2, 8-7, and 10-9. The loss ended a 16-game winning streak, and was Jared Mortensen's first loss of the season. Zach Armstrong went the seven-inning distance for the Scorpions, allowed only three hits, struck out six. (Mortensen allowed four hits, struck out ten.) 2B Scott Frasier hit a sacrifice fly for the winning run for the Scorpions. SS Manny Estrada hit a home run to win the second game, and he drew a bases-loaded walk to send in the winning run in the third game. The Pilots visit William Carey April 18, host Texas Wesleyan April 20-21, and close their regular season at Division III Centenary April 24. -14. The Pilots lead the Red River Athletic Conference, and can clinch the pennant with one win against Texas Wesleyan.

Oklahoma City (20-3 SAC) won two games against Oklahoma Christian, 16-2 and 13-2. RF Dane Phillips went 7-8 with five RBI for the two games. A third game against Oklahoma Christian is scheduled for April 17. The Stars also got a non-conference win against Bacone 4-1. Ryan Gibson got the win, went five innings, allowed one hit, struck out seven. The Stars visit Lubbock Christian April 20-21. The Stars lead the Sooner Athletic Conference; #7 Oklahoma Baptist is 3 ½ games back with a 16-6 record.

Lee (23-4 SSAC) dropped a mid-week game to Bryan 9-8, defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 9-6, and won two of three extra-inning games against Auburn-Montgomery, 5-4 (12 innings), 7-8 (eight innings, scheduled for seven), and 7-6 (eight innings, scheduled for seven). The Flames entered the ninth inning of the games against Bryan four runs behind. They got three of them, but the potential tying run was cancelled by a tag at the plate. The Flames won the first game against AUM on a pair of errors in the twelth inning. Jose Samayoa got the win, allowed one hit over 2 1/3 innings. The starter, Kris Hall, went 9 2/3 innings, allowed six hits. 2B Jorden Johnson hit an RBI single for the winning run for the Warhawks in the second game. Johnson was 2-for-4 with two RBI. DH Jorge Saez batted in three runs in the third game, Vince Spilker went the distance for the win. The Flames complete their regular season at Belhaven April 20-21. The loss to AUM dropped the Flames to second place in the Southern States Athletic Conference, one game behind #5 Faulkner. Lee and Faulkner did not play each other during the regular season.

Azusa Pacific (21-3 GSAC) didn't play last week. They host Westmont April 19-20, and visit Westmont April 21. The Cougars lead the Golden State Athletic Conference; #12 Concordia is five games behind with a 16-8 record.

Faulkner (24-3 SSAC) swept three games at Southern Polytechnic, 8-6, 3-1, and 2-1. Will Dismukes went the seven-inning distance in the second game, allowed two hits and no earned runs; Craig Massey hit an RBI single for the winning run. The winning run in the third game was scored by courtesy runner Antonio Kendrick on a throwing error in the top of the ninth; Lyndon Eusea got the win in relief. The Eagles have won 17 straight. They complete their regular season at home against Shorter April 20-21.

Tennessee Wesleyan (17-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) lost 9-6 to #3 Lee, and swept three games against Bryan, 4-1, 9-1, and 4-2. Josh Culler went the seven-inning distance in the first game, allowed two hits, struck out 1. 3B Taylor Oldham hit a two-run home run for the winning run. Jeremy Fitzgerald and Ben Crocker combined for a two-hitter in the second game. Corey Rhoney got the win in the third game, went seven innings, struck out ten. Culler is 7-1, 2.70 ERA, with 67 strikeouts. Oldham has 59 RBI. The Bulldogs visit Montreat April 21-22.

Okahoma Baptist (17-6 SAC) won two of three against #18 Lubbock Christian, 5-3, 3-7, and 4-3. Chad Hardison got the win in the first game, went the seven-inning distance, struck out six. The second game was delayed for 160 minutes by a tornado. After the break, LF Jordan Lewis and C Jason Fisch hit two-RBI singles for the Chaparrals. 2B Greg Nelson hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to win the third game; Jesus Carlos got the win, after getting the loss in the second game. The Bison also split a double-header with Division II Southwestern Oklahoma, winning 3-1 (eight innings, scheduled for seven) and losing 2-0. The Bison visit Northwestern Oklahoma State April 19, and visit Northwestern Oklahoma State April 21. Streaming video is available for Bison home games.

Embry-Riddle (18-6 The Sun Conference) lost two of three to #13 Saint Thomas, losing the first two 4-3 and 5-4, and salvaging the third game 6-4. C Giovanni Zayas hit an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to win the first game for the Bobcats. The Bobcats got three unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the second game; the Eagles were held to three hits by Danny Sanchez and Dane Stone. The Eagles had to come back from a 4-1 deficit in the third game. 3B Jeff Lemon hit an RBI single in the eighth inning for the winning run. The Eagles visit Ave Maria April 20-21, and complete their regular season at home against Edward Waters April 24. The Eagles hold a one-game lead over #19 South Carolina-Beaufort in The Sun Conference.

Point Park swept Walsh, 3-1, 11-6, 5-4, and 6-2. Derek Peluso got the win in the first game, went 6 1/3 innings, struck out seven. The Pioneers host Division II Salem International April 18, and Fisher April 21-22.

Lewis-Clark State (20-6 NAIA West) won three of four at Oregon Tech, 6-1, 11-6, 6-7, and 17-11. Michael Noteware got the win in the first game, to run his record to 7-1; he went eight innings, struck out 9. DH Braxton Miller hit two home runs in the second game, batted in six runs. The Hustlin' Owls got four unearned runs in the third game. The Warriors host Patten April 20-22.

Saint Xavier (#90 ISR) got a 9-3 win against Division I Northwestern. Freshman RHP Andy Kovaric got the win. He went eight innings, allowed three hits, and no earned runs. He is 3-0, 2.70 ERA for the season. LF Brad Myjak hit a three-run home run in the first inning, added an RBI single later in the game. The Cougars are 30-14 and are two games out of first place in the South Division of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 15-5 record.