Game Accounts

The NAIA Coaches' poll for May 1, 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 won the Red River Athletic Conference championship, defeating Bacone 5-2 in the final. This was the only game of the tournament that was close. CF Ridge Gonsoulin went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the final; Drew Middleton got the win.

Oklahoma City swept three games against Wayland Baptist, 5-4, 7-0, and 22-6, and won the Sooner Athletic Conference pennant. 1B Miguel Beltran hit a three-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to win the first game. Blake Schwartz pitched a complete-game two-hitter in the second game, struck out ten. Beltran hit two home runs in the third game, to bring his season total to 22, tied for most in the NAIA. They finished their regular season with a 8-4 win over Division II Central Oklahoma. RF Chad Carman went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, and three RBI. The Stars are hosting the SAC tournament, and are scheduled to play Southern Nazarene May 2, Northwestern Oklahoma State on May 3, and #24 Lubbock Christian on May 4.

Faulkner was defeated by #5 Lee 13-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament, and because the Eagles lost an earlier game in the tournament, 12-9 to Shorter, the loss took the Flames out of the tournament. The loss to Shorter forced the Eagles to deplete their pitching staff, and they had to move position players to the mound for the last two innings of the game against Lee. This was the only meeting of the Eagles and Flames this season.

Azusa Pacific won three of four against Point Loma Nazarene. They lost the first game 6-5 when Matt Winkler balked in a run in the bottom of the 13^th inning. Garrett Gooding, who pitched 5 1/3 relief innings for the Sea Lions, allowed four hits, struck out five, got the win. The Cougars won the remaining three games 3-1, 7-3, and 4-2. Jacob Cage got the in in the first game, went six innings, allowed zero earned runs on five hits. RF Brent Warren batted in two of the Cougars' runs, including a bunt single that sent in the winning run. DH Trevor Lothrup hit a grand slam home run to win the second game. 3B Brendan Casey scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the third game; J.C. Aguayo scattered seven hits for the win. The Cougars were upset by Westmont 12-5 in the first round of the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament. 3B David Gabel went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double for the Warriors, batted in four runs. Timothy Leary went eight innings, got the win. This was Westmont's first post-season game in 15 years. The Cougars will play Fresno Pacific on May 2.

After winning many close games during the regular season, Lee stormed through the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. Only the 5-2 win over William Carey was close. Starter Vince Spilker got the win in that one, went 6 2/3 innings, allowed one earned run on five hits, struck out seven. RF Trevor Burgess batting in the winning run. SS Edmanuel Rivera also batted in a run, and made a couple of great defensive plays. Jose Samayoa, James Rechenbach, and Ryan Zimmer combined for the 13-0 shutout against Faulkner. Samayoa went seven innings, allowed three hits, struck out six, and walked seven batters. His record for the season is 8-0, 2.30 ERA. This was the only time the Flames and Faulkner played each other this season.

Embry-Riddle was upset 7-1 by Savannah College Art and Design in the first round of The Sun Conference tournament. Dylan Weber-Callahan went the distance for the Bees, held the Eagles scoreless after giving up a run in the first inning. C Jamison Sweat went 4-for-5 with an RBI for the Bees. Weber-Callahan is 5-2, 2.26 ERA for the season. The Eagles will play another upset victim, #13 South Carolina-Beaufort, on May 2.

Tennessee Wesleyan won their first-round game in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament against Virginia Intermont 16-3. DH Drew Levi went 4-for-4 with a triple, batted in five runs. Zach Fleshman got the win, scattered nine hits. Their next game is against Milligan May 2.

Oklahoma Baptist won two of three against U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, 6-4, 0-1, and 10-3. The Bison won the first game with only four hits. Eddie Cervantes pitched a one-hitter for the Drovers in the second game, and LF Jared Coon hit a home run for the only run of the game. 1B Daniel Baptista went 3-for-3 with a home run and eight RBI in the third game. The Bison play Saint Gregory's May 2, USAO May 3, and Rogers State May 4 in the SAC tournament.

Lewis-Clark State won two of three against Division III Linfield, 4-0, 8-5, and 7-10. Michael Noteware pitched a three-hit shutout in the first game. 3B Alfonso Casillas hit a grand slam home run to win the second game. Linfield got seven unearned runs in the third game. The Warriors complete their regular season at a tournament of Division III teams hosted by Linfield May 4-6.

Point Park lost their first-round game in an Unaffiliated Group tournament in Kinston, NC to Asbury 5-4 in 11 innings. DH Simeon Bell scored the winning run when a throw to first went into the dugout. He was 3-for-5 for the game. Isaiah Bell went nine innings for Asbury, allowed four hits. Asbury is #175 in the ISR. The Pioneers play Fisher (who lost to Talladega) on May 2.

Defending champion Concordia-Irvine defeated Fresno Pacific 3-2 (10 innings) in the first round of the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament. 3B Spencer Ofelt singled in the winning run, and Brent Clapper went the ten-inning distance, struck out 11. The Eagles will play The Master's (ISR #12) on May 2.