NAIA baseball action during the past week.
#1 Tennessee Wesleyan defeated Georgia Gwinnett 2-1, and won two of three against Saint Andrew's, 2-0, 6-5, and 2-3. The winning run against Georgia Gwinnett came on an RBI single by SS Wes Minton in the bottom of the ninth. Corey Rhoney and Noah Piard combined for the shutout in the first Saint Andrew's game; Rhoney went eight innings, allowed four hits, struck out seven. In the second game, the Knights out-hit the Bulldogs 12-7; the Bulldogs scored all six of their runs in the first inning. CF Travis Burnside hit a two-RBI single, then scored the winning run on a misplayed ground ball. In the third game, the defending champions were held to six hits by Joe McCarty and Evan Tucker. RF Michael Durig batted in all three of the Knights' runs.
The Bulldogs are now 15-5. They visit Belhaven March 5-6, host Milligan March 9-10, and host Ohio Christian March 11.
#2 LSU-Shreveport got an easy 15-5 mid-week win over Division III Louisiana College, but was swept by Texas Wesleyan, 5-1, 12-8, and 6-5. Derek Vaughn got the win for the Rams in the first game; he went six innings, allowed one run on two hits, struck out four. Connor Zamora and Nolan Barbee kept the Pilots off the board the rest of the way, and Zamora struck out three of the six batters he faced. CF Trevor Moon singled in the winning run (story). In the second game, the Rams scored ten runs in the second inning, capped by a three-RBI double by SS David Kiriakos. The Pilots out-hit the Rams 11-7 in the third game. They got within one run in the top of the ninth, and had the go-ahead run on first with nobody out. However, reliever Patrick Stanley got two strikeout and a fly out to end the game and get a save (story).
Northwood (TX), who has won seven straight, has the lead in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Rams are two games back, and the Pilots are three games back. The Pilots visit LSU-Alexandria March 5, and host Huston-Tillotson March 8-9. Streaming audio
#3 Lee swept a mid-week double-header at Milligan 7-3 and 16-4, and won two of three at Belhaven, 6-2, 0-1, and 4-1. Jose Samayoa ran his record to 4-0 in the first game, went seven innings, allowed one run on four hits, struck out nine. However, the Flames didn't get the winning run until the eighth inning, on an RBI single by C Danny Canela (story). The second game was a pitching duel between Chris Good of the Blazers, and Myles Smith of the Flames. Good, a transfer from New Mexico, allowed two hits, struck out six, and Smith allowed three hits, struck out eight. 2B Daniel Gilbert singled in the winning run in the second inning; Domenic Francia, who reached on a double, scored. Three of the Flames' runs in the third game came on a home run by Canela in the eighth inning. Alex Moore got the win in relief (story).
The Flames visit 14-6 William Carey March 8-9. The Flames and #9 Faulkner will not play each other during the regular season.
#4 Oklahoma City defeated Baker (KS) twice, 5-1 and 17-3, and defeated Saint Mary (KS) twice, 5-0 and 7-6. Derek Howell and Chad Nelson combined for the shutout against Saint Mary; Howell scattered eight hits. 1B Forrest Smith hit a home run for the only run the Stars needed. In the 7-6 win, the Stars came up with five runs on the bottom of the seventh and final inning. Pinch-hitter Kale Gaden hit an RBI single to win it (story).
The Stars are 17-3. They visit Oklahoma Wesleyan March 5, host #10 Oklahoma Baptist March 7-8 (streaming video for a price), and visit Oklahoma Baptist March 9. They visit Northwood (TX) March 12.
#5 Rogers State defeated Dakota State twice, 3-1 and 9-4 (story), and defeated Ottawa 10-0. Shawn Spainhoward and Kyle Duncan got the wins against Dakota State, and 3B Tyler Wheeler went 4-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in the two games. Colton Campbell went 4-for-4 with three doubles and four RBI against Ottawa, and Brandon Bargas and Jesus Del Rosario combined for the mercy-rule-shortened shutout (story).
The Hillcats have won nine straight. They host Saint Gregory's March 7 (streaming video), and visit Saint Gregory's March 9.
#6 Point Park swept West Virginia Tech 9-0 and 7-5 (story). Manny Perdomo and Jon Corcoran combined for the shutout. The Pirates split a double-header with Davenport, 3-2 and 2-12. 1B Marlon Leyva bunted in the winning run in the first game (story). The next day, the Pirates split with #24 Madonna, losing 3-2 and winning 5-1. In the first game, Jeremy Gooding went the seven-inning distance for the Crusaders, allowed four hits, struck out ten. Austin Pressley got the win in the second game.
The Pirates continue their Florida tour playing Evangel March 5, Cornerstone and Clarke March 7, and #7 Embry-Riddle March 8.
#7 Embry-Riddle lost to Davenport 7-6. Davenport got all seven of their runs in the fourth inning, and the winning run came on a three-RBI double by C Michael Allen (story). The Eagles then won two of three against Warner, 10-4, 3-9, and 4-1. Stetson Nelson pitched a complete-game three-hitter in the third game, struck out ten (story).
The Eagles then defeated #17 Bellevue twice, 4-2 and 10-6. Brian Johnson got the win in the first game, SS Tyler Robbins singled in the winning run (story). The Eagles got seven unearned runs in the second game.
The Eagles host Clarke March 5, Bethel (TN) and Aquinas March 7, #6 Point Park March 8, Viterbo March 9, and Edward Waters March 10. Streaming video (for a price)
#8 Lewis-Clark State defeated Division II Saint Martin's 8-2, then split four games with a Corban team that has played well so far this season, 10-6, 8-1, 3-4 (13 innings), and 1-2 . Ryan Sells got his first start against Saint Martin's. He not only held Saint Martin's to one hit over six innings (struck out four), he went 3-for-4 at the plate, with two home runs and four RBI. (Sells normally plays shortstop, and had four home runs during this road trip.) (story) Anthony Armanino got the win in the first game at Corban, which was scoreless for the first five innings; Armanino allowed only three hits over seven innings (story).
In the third game, Corban got three runs in the bottom of the fifth on an error, two walks, and a hit batter. They nearly won it in regulation, but didn't quite complete a triple play in the top of the ninth. The play started with a line drive by C Kevin Hawk to LF Andy Hill. He threw it to SS Marc Gallegos, who then threw home to get RF Cody Lavalli for the second out. However, Gallegos didn't step on second base prior to throwing home to complete the triple play. L-C State then got an RBI single by DH Stephan Adams to tie the game and send it into extra innings. 2B Derek Legg hit a walk-off RBI single to win it for Corban in the bottom of th 13th. Caleb Virtue pitched the final four innings for Corban, allowed one hit, struck out three, and got the win. Both teams used only two pitchers.
Daniel Gober got the win for Corban in the fourth game. The only run he allowed was a home run by Sells in the first inning. He went seven innings, scattered seven hits. Both of Corban's runs were unearned; they came on RBI singles by Legg and Gallegos. This was Coban's first-ever double-header sweep over L-C State (story).
L-C State hosts Menlo March 9-10 (streaming audio). Menlo is 9-9, and has two good starting pitchers, Derek Martinez and Joey Webb. Corban visits C. of Idaho March 8-9.
#9 Faulkner swept Truett-McConnell 2-0, 11-3, and 8-1. Johnny Shuttlesworth pitched a three-hit shutout in the first game. LF David Bishop batted in five runs in the second game, Will Dismukes got the win (story). Bishop batted in three more runs n the third game, Julian Esquibel got the win (story).
The Eagles are 18-2. They visit Point March 6, and Spring Hill March 8-9.
#10 Oklahoma Baptist was 6-0 for the weekend. They defeated Midland 5-1, #15 Sterling 6-4 (story), Mount Mercy 6-2 and 8-4, McPherson 8-2 (story), and William Woods 18-9 (story). 1B Matt Page hit a home run in the second Mount Mercy game, and three more in the William Woods game. He had nine RBI against William Woods.
The Bison are 14-5. They visit #4 Oklahoma City March 7-8, and host Oklahoma City March 9. Streaming video
#12 Lindsey Wilson had three games rained out. They swept a double-header against Rio Grande 5-4 and 3-1 (story), and split a double-header at Cumberland 2-10 and 7-5. RF Jeff Kerian had four hits, five RBI, a home run, and a stolen base in the two games against Rio Grande. 1B Craig Monson went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI for Cumberland in the first game, and batted in the winning run. LF Jeandro Andino hit a grand slam home run for the Blue Raiders in the second game against Cumberland.
The Blue Raiders are 13-6. They host Dakota State March 6, and visit #20 Georgetown C. (KY) March 8-9.
Cal State San Marcos swept a double-header against Ashford 8-0 and 14-2 (story). James Dykstra pitched the three-hit shutout, struck out 11. The Cougars are 12-1. They host Ashford again on March 7, and host Sioux Falls March 9-10.
The Master's continues to lead the Golden State Athletic Conference, but that lead is now only one game, over Concordia-Irvine. The Mustangs split a non-conference double-header with Menlo; 0-2 and 3-2. Five Oaks pitchers combined for the shutout in the first game, A.J. Work got the win in the second game. The Mustangs split another non-conference double header with Oregon Tech, 12-2 and 2-3 (eight innings, scheduled for seven). The Mustangs host Ashford March 5, and visit Westmont March 8-9. Streaming video (good quality)
More teams with good starts: Freed-Hardeman is 14-2-1, Virginia Intermont is 11-2, and U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is 17-2.