NAIA baseball action during the past week.
#1 Tennessee Wesleyan lost a mid-week game to #12 Lindsey Wilson 4-3. The Bulldogs outhit the Blue Raiders 9-7; LF Leandro Andino hit a sacrifice fly to send in the winning run. (story). The defending champions then swept three games against Indiana-Southeast, 12-2, 3-1, and 2-1. In the first game, Four Bulldog pitchers combined to hold the Grenadiers to four hits; Jarrod Jameson got the win. SS Wes Minton scored the winning run in the second game on a passed ball; Corey Rhoney got the win, went 5 2/3 innings, allowed four hits, struck out five. In the third game, the Bulldogs managed only two hits off Grenadiers pitcher Lucas Harry, but RF David Donald was hit by a pitch and scored on a ground out for the first Bulldog run, and Minton hit a solo home run for the winning run. Tyler Wilson got the win; he went 4 2/3 innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven.
The Bulldogs host Georgia Gwinnett February 27, and Saint Andrew's, who is 9-1, March 2-3.
#2 LSU-Shreveport swept Texas College, 14-4, 3-2, and 8-4. Rory Young got the win in the first game. The Pilots needed a two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh and final inning by C David Dorton to win the second game. CF Ridge Gonsoulin hit a two-run home run in the third game, finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.
The Pilots host Division III Louisiana College February 26, and visit Texas Wesleyan March 1-2.
#3 Lee got a 5-3 mid-week win at Union C. (KY), and swept #18 Auburn-Montgomery, 18-6 (story), 4-1, and 9-2 (story). In the first game, Derrick Pitts hit two home runs, one of them a grand slam. Jose Samayoa got the win in the second game, went six innings, allowed one run on four hits, struck out seven. Jeremy Stawychny got his second win of the week in relief in the third game; he also got the win against Union C.
The Flames visit Milligan February 26, and Belhaven March 1-2. Streaming video
#4 Oklahoma City defeated York 18-2 and Oklahoma Christian 2-1. LF Cale Gaden doubled in the winning run against Oklahoma Christian; Cody Crabaugh got the win, went six innings, allowed five hits, struck out six.
The Stars visit Bacone February 26, and host Baker (KS) and Saint Mary (KS) March 2-3.
#5 Rogers State swept a double-header against Ecclesia, 7-0 and 6-1. Four Hillcat pitchers combined for the shutout in the first game.
The Hillcats are 10-3. They host Oklahoma Christian February 25, and play Peru State and Ottawa at Ottawa March 2.
#6 Point Park started their season with two losses at Martin Methodist, 3-0 and 6-1. Blake Beavers pitched a complete game four-hit shutout for Martin Methodist, struck out ten. In the second game, LF Clint Gobbell hit a three-RBI double; Josh Brown went the seven-inning distance, allowed four hits (story). Point Park's scheduled games at Talladega and Campbellsville were rained out. Martin Methodist is 11-5.
The Pirates visit West Virginia Tech February 25, and play eight games in Florida, starting with Davenport March 3. Streaming audio
#7 Embry-Riddle's series at Thomas (GA) was rained out. The Eagles host Davenport February 26, Warner March 1-2, and #17 Bellevue March 3-4. Streaming video (for a price)
#8 Lewis-Clark State split four games with Division II Western Oregon. The Warriors won 8-2 on Friday (story), split a double-header on Saturday, 4-1 and 2-11 (story), and lost 10-8 on Sunday (story). The Wolves out-hit the Warriors 10-8 in the second game, but they stranded ten baserunners. 2B Brian Corliss singled in the winning run. In the third game, the Wolves got the winning run on a sacrifice fly by DH Tim Rausch; the Warriors didn't get on the board until the eighth inning. The Warriors were done in by five errors and six unearned runs in the fourth game. Jesse Pratt got the win for the Wolves; he pitched five innings of relief, allowed only one hit. CF Daniel McNabb went 4-for-4 with four RBI for the Wolves, three of the RBI on a bases-loaded triple.
The Warriors visit Division II Saint Martin's on February 28, then open their NAIA West schedule at Corban March 1-2. Corban is 8-3, but their entire schedule so far has been against Division III teams.
#9 Faulkner swept three games against Emmanuel, 13-12, 11-1, and 8-2, to run their record to 15-2. 1B Ethan Williams hit a two-out, two RBI double with two out in the bottom of the seventh and final inning to win the first game. Johnny Shuttlesworth got the win in the second game, went six innings, allowed one run on three hits, struck out seven (story).
#10 Oklahoma Baptist swept a double-header against Bethany (KS) on Tuesday, and swept another double-header against Evangel, 9-3 and 4-2 (story). The Bison visit Oklahoma Christian February 26, and host Oklahoma Christian March 2.
#12 Lindsey Wilson got the win over #1 Tennessee Wesleyan, then won two of three against Virginia-Wise, 11-1, 6-0, and 0-2. The first game was mercy-ruled after eight innings. Darren Travers went the distance, allowed no earned runs on three hits, struck out seven. Chris Erker and Oscar Carlstedt combined for the shutout in the second game; Erker went eight innings, allowed four hits, struck out six. Justin Wilson pitched the shutout for the Cavaliers in the third game; he allowed three hits, struck out three. RF Brett Hylton hit an RBI double for the winning run.
The Blue Raiders are 10-5. They visit Bethel (TN) February 25, host Bethel C. (KY) February 27, and host Rio Grande March 2-3.
Cal State San Marcos got their first loss of the season in winning two of three against La Sierra, 8-1, 1-3, and 4-3. Steve Messner got the win in the first game, went six innings, allowed one hit, struck out eight (story). The Cougars out-hit the Golden Eagles 9-3 in the second game, but the Golden Eagles got three unearned runs in the eighth inning on two errors. Pinch-hitter Marquis Kidd hit a two-RBI double for the winning run. In the third game, the Golden Eagles took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh and final innings, but RF Marcus Meraz hit an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to tie it, then SS Tyler Bernard hit an RBI single with two outs to win it. Kevin Hilton went the distance for the Cougars, allowed no earned runs on three hits, struck out five (story). The Cougars host Ashford March 4.
The Master's swept Arizona Christian, 10-1, 3-0, and 5-2, and continues to hold the lead in the Golden State Athletic Conference. DH Joe Riddle hit a grand slam home run in the first game, A.J. Work got the win; Work is already 5-1 on the season. James Scott pitched the nine-inning complete game shutout, allowed three hits, struck out seven (story). The Mustangs host Menlo February 26, and Oregon Tech March 2. Streaming video (good quality)
More teams with good starts: Freed-Hardeman is 12-0-1, Campbellsville is 8-1, U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is 15-2.