Game Accounts

The NAIA Coaches' poll for April 24, 2012, with Boyd Nation's Iterative Strength Rating (ISR):

First place votes: LSU-Shreveport 19, Azusa Pacific 1

Azusa Pacific is #1 in Strength of Schedule

LSU-Shreveport (22-4 RRAC) swept a double-header at William Carey, 10-4 and 9-4, and clinched the Red River Athletic Conference pennant by sweeping Texas Wesleyan 5-2, 5-0, and 14-2. Jared Mortensen went the distance in the first Texas Wesleyan game, scattered eight hits, struck out nine. Matt Lackie went the distance for the shutout in the second game, ran his record to 9-0, struck out seven. The Pilots then swept a double-header at Division III Centenary, 15-11 and 10-7 (eight innings, scheduled for seven). Mortensen got a save in the second game, CF Ridge Gonsoulin batted in the winning run. This crosstown, cross-divisional matchup drew 550 fans. The Pilots host the RRAC tournament April 28-May 1.

Oklahoma City (23-4 SAC) won two of three against #18 Lubbock Christian, 5-1, 4-5 (eight innings, scheduled for seven), and 4-2. 1B Miguel Beltran hit a home run in the first game, and also made an unassisted double play. 3B Jordan Lewis batted in the winning run for the Chaparrals in the second game. Jose Gonzalez, who retired all four batters he faced, got the win. 2B Brian Fisher hit a home run for the winning run in the third game. The Stars host Wayland Baptist April 26-27, and finish their regular season at Division II Central Oklahoma April 28. Beltran now has 20 home runs on the season, most in the NAIA. The Stars lead the Sooner Athletic Conference; #8 Oklahoma Baptist is three games back (with three games remaining) with a 20-7 record.

Faulkner (27-3 SSAC) swept three games against Shorter, 4-1, 5-1, and 4-2, and won the Southern States Athletic Conference pennant. Corey Black pitched a three-hitter in the first game, struck out eight. 2B Daniel Cayton hit a two-RBI double for the winning run in the third game. Black leads the NAIA with an ERA of 0.97, and is tied with four other pitchers (including Rich Hawkins of Oklahoma City) with ten wins. The Eagles have won 20 straight games. The SSAC tournament starts April 26, in Columbus, GA. The Eagles will play Belhaven in the first round.

Azusa Pacific (25-3 GSAC) swept four games against Westmont, 4-2, 10-9, 8-5, and 5-3 (ten innings), and won the Golden State Athletic Conference pennant. CF Matt Kimmel went 4-for-4 with a double and four RBI in the second game. 1B Jordan Leyland hit two home runs in the fourth game, one of which sent the game into extra innings. C Matt Page hit a home run to win it. Kimmel is third in the NAIA with a batting average of .462. Leyland is eighth with an average of .443, and his 19 home runs put him in second place after Beltran. The Cougars visit Point Loma Nazarene April 27, and close their regular season at home against Point Loma April 28. They then host the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament, which starts May 1.

Lee (26-4 SSAC) finished their regular season with a three-game sweep at Belhaven, 5-4, 4-2, and 3-2 (ten innings). C Jorge Saez went 2-for-3 with three RBI, including a two-run home run, in the second game. SS Edmanuel Rivera hit a triple and scored on a wild pitch to win the third game. The Flames play Mobile in the first round of the SSAC tournament.

Embry-Riddle (21-6 The Sun Conference) started the week with a 9-5 loss to Division II Tampa. They then swept three games at Ave Maria, 8-3, 9-0, and 3-1, to win The Sun Conference pennant. Adam Paulencu pitched the complete-game shutout in the second game, struck out seven. Kevin Maloney got the win in the third game, went five innings, allowed one run on three hits. Maloney's 1.29 ERA is the fourth-lowest in the NAIA. The Sun Conference tournament starts May 1 in Fort Myers, FL.

Tennessee Wesleyan (19-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) won two of three at Montreat, 3-4, 12-2, and 16-1. Joey Duncan got the win for Montreat in the first game, recorded twelve strikeouts in a seven-inning game. Marti Sementelli faced five batters for the Cavaliers in the second game, gave up two runs on three hits. Her numbers for the season are 0-2, 8.25 ERA, six strikeouts in twelve innings pitched. 3B Taylor Oldham hit three home runs in the third game (he has 18 on the season). C Dale Ricketts hit two more, and three more Bulldogs hit home runs. The Bulldogs complete their regular season at home against Reinhardt April 26-27, then go to the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament in Kingsport, TN, which starts May 1.

Oklahoma Baptist (20-7 SAC) won two of three against Northwestern Oklahoma State, 4-6, 6-1, and 4-3. LF Wesley Brorsen hit a two-run home run for the winning run in the first game. Chris Witsci went the seven-inning distance in the second game, allowed four hits, struck out ten. Jesus Carlos went the distance in the third game, scattered ten hits. It was Carlos' first start of the season. His record is 5-1, 2.70 ERA, eight saves, and 64 strikeouts. The Bison visit U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma April 26, and finish their regular season at home against USAO April 28. Streaming video is available for Bison home games.

Lewis-Clark State (25-6 NAIA West) swept four games against Patten, 13-2, 17-0, 7-4, and 5-0. Anthony Armanino and Terik Gofinch combined for the shutout in the second game. Austin Pentecost and Zach Clanton combined for a two-hitter in the third game. Six Warrior pitchers combined for the two-hit shutout in the fourth game. LF Kevin McLeod went 4-for-4 with an RBI in the fourth game. The Warriors host Division III Linfield April 27-29.

Point Park defeated Division II Salem International 17-0, and swept three games against Fisher, 5-0, 10-2, and 11-1. Derek Peluso pitched a three-hit shutout in the first game. The Pioneers will play in an Unaffiliated Group tournament in Kinston, NC which starts May 1.

Fresno Pacific (#29 ISR) got a 14-5 win against Division I San Jose State. It was the Sunbirds' first win over a Division I team. SS Alec Mehrten went 5-for-6 with two doubles and an RBI. Wilson Ashford got the win. The Sunbirds play defending champions and current #11 Concordia-Irvine April 27-28.