Eight of the NAIA's top ten teams have started their seasons.
#9 Faulkner, a team with heavy graduation losses, started their season with a double-header sweep of defending champion and #1 Tennessee Wesleyan, 5-4 and 12-0. The next day, the Eagles split a double-header with #12 Lindsey Wilson, winning 5-2, and losing 10-7 (ten innings, scheduled for seven). SS Dauris Holguin singled in the winning run in the first game against Tennessee Wesleyan. Johnny Shuttlesworth and Dustin Spruiell combined for the shutout in the second game, held the Bulldogs to three hits. Julian Esquibel got the win in the first game against Lindsey Wilson. They nearly made it four straight; Lindsey Wilson got an unearned run in the seventh inning to send it into extra innings, then got three runs in the tenth to win it.
The Bulldogs got another loss against #18 Auburn-Montgomery, 5-4, before getting their first win of the season against the Warhawks 12-3. 3B Jake Stone hit a double and a home run in the win.
The Bulldogs open their home schedule against West Virginia Tech February 9-10. The Eagles host Talladega February 5, Shawnee State February 9, and U. of the Cumberlands February 10.
#2 LSU-Shreveport lost two of three at William Carey, losing 10-3 and 9-8, and salvaging a 12-1 win. Cullen Babin got the win in the first game, went seven innings, scattered three hits, allowed only one earned run, and struck out six. 3B Mitch Bohon did the damage for the Crusaders in the second game; 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. C Reed Lavalee went 3-for-5 with a double in the Pilots' win.
The Pilots host Houston-Victoria February 8-9.
#3 Lee opened their season with a three-game sweep of Northwestern Ohio, 12-1, 11-1, and 7-3. Danny Canela, a transfer from North Carolina State, went 6-for-12 with six RBI for the series. Myles Smith, Clint Terry, and Jose Samayoa got the wins.
The Flames host Tennessee Temple February 6, and the Tennessee Valley Invitational February 8-9. The field for the tounament is Bluefield, #20 Georgetown C., #24 Madonna, and Rio Grande.
#4 Oklahoma City started their season with four wins, 8-0 and 5-0 against Culver-Stockton, and 17-6 and 9-4 against #23 Doane. Cody Crabaugh and Ricky Spain combined for a five-hit shutout in the first game. Derek Howell pitched a complete seven-inning game shutout in the second game, allowed three hits. 1B Forrest Smith (transfer from Taft College) went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBI in the third game, and he was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the fourth game.
The Stars visit Texas Wesleyan February 5, and host Northwood (TX) and Benedictine (KS) February 8-9.
#5 Rogers State also started the season 4-0. The Hillcats defeated Southwest Assemblies of God 15-8 and 9-2, and Arlington Baptist 12-1 and 17-7. Colton Campbell was 9-for-15 with eight RBI for the four games, and Cody Campbell went 7-for-12 with three doubles, a triple, and eight RBI.
The Hillcats will play in a tournament hosted by Dallas Christian February 8-9; they will play Tabor (twice), Texas-Tyler, and Dallas Christian.
#6 Point Park starts their season February 22.
#7 Embry-Riddle won two of three against #20 Georgetown C. (KY), 5-4, 2-1, and 6-7. The Eagles also got a 5-4 win against Webber International. Kevin Maloney ran his career record to 20-0 in the first game, pitched 5 2/3 innings, struck out six. Chad Modomo went the seven-inning distance in the second game, allowed three hits, struck out seven. RF Kevin Lindheim scored the winning run on an error in the sixth inning. In the loss to Georgetown, the Tigers tied it in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by RF David Higuera, then got the winning run when CF Justin Moore scored on a wild pitch. Chad Richie got the win in relief for the Tigers; he pitched the last 2 2/3 innings, allowed one hit, struck out four. 3B Jordan Johnson hit an RBI single with two out in the bottom of the ninth for the win against Webber International.
The Eagles start Sun Conference play by hosting Southeastern February 8-9.
#8 Lewis-Clark State starts their season by hosting a tournament including British Columbia and Concordia-Portland February 8-10.
#10 Oklahoma Baptist lost their opener to Division II Southwestern Oklahoma 7-2. Both teams had four hits, but the Bison were done in by four runs in the first inning; one on an error, one walked in, and a two-RBI single by 3B Kevin Cantrell.
Biola has the early lead in the Golden State Athletic Conference, 8-2 overall, 4-2 conference. However, the team to beat in Southern California might be Cal State San Marcos, who started their season by sweeping a three-game series against #11 Concordia-Irvine, 4-1, 4-3, and 5-4. James Dykstra got the win in the first game, allowed four hits in seven innings. The Cougars won the second and third games with walk-off RBI singles; 1B Brandon Bentson in the second game, and RF Marcus Meraz in the third. Mike Scarambella (three innings pitched, no runs on one hit) and Frank Charlton (one inning pitched, no hits, 1 K) got the wins. Cougars Head Coach Dennis Pugh described the sweep as “probably the biggest day in our baseball program's history.”
The Cougars host Division III power Chapman February 8, and visit San Diego Christian February 9.
More teams with good starts: Emmanuel and U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma are 6-1.
And, a piece of NCAA news: Division III CalTech, under new Head Coach Matthew Mark, defeated Pacifica 9-7, and this win ended a 228-game losing streak for the Beavers. Their last win was in 2003. The Beavers have only 13 players on their roster, including eight pitchers. They host Oregon Tech February 8.