#1 Faulkner went 2-2 on the weekend, making their record 5-2. They split two games with #4 Missouri Baptist, winning 5-4, and losing 4-3. In the first game, DH Randy Joung, who reached on an error, scored the winning run on a balk by Carl Jameson in the bottom of the sixth of a seven-inning game. Labradford Griffis got a save; he struck out RF Enrique Pagan in the top of the seventh with the tying run at third base. 2B Jeff Smith hit a solo home run in the second inning for the winning run in the second game. Ryan Stapp got the win; he combined with two other pitchers to hold the Eagles to four hits.
The Eagles' other loss was to #15 Lindsey Wilson, 4-1. The Eagles held a 1-0 lead going into the seventh inning, but several errors in the seventh allowed the Blue Raiders to win it. LHP Jason Turner went the seven-inning distance for the Blue Raiders, allowed five hits. Jeremy Holcombe, who allowed only three hits, and struck out seven, got the loss.
The Eagles finished the weekend with a 7-4 win over #10 Cumberland. LHP Thomas Dorminy went the seven-inning distance for the Eagles, allowed two earned runs on four hits, struck out eight. LF Esteban Paula went 2-for-2 with two RBI.
The Eagles visit Blue Mountain Feb. 14-15.
Missouri Baptist is 1-3; they lost 6-5 (12 innings) to Lindsey Wilson, and 5-4 to Cumberland. Derek Shugart hit an RBI triple in the 12th for the win for the Blue Raiders. Sam Ross got the win, pitched five innings in relief. DH Richie Seaton hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to win it for Cumberland. The Bulldogs out-hit the Spartans 11-5, and SS Josciel Veras went 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Bulldogs. The Spartans play Campbellsville Feb. 13, Saint Francis Feb. 14, and Belhaven Feb. 15; all three games are at Belhaven.
The Blue Raiders split a double-header with Auburn-Montgomery the following day, making their record 3-4. They visit Point Feb. 14-15.
The Bulldogs also split a double-header with Auburn-Montgomery, making their record 2-2. They host Union U. (TN) Feb. 11, and Taylor Feb. 14-15. The Warhawks are 5-3, and they visit Brewton-Parker Feb. 14-15.
A four-team tournament at #2 Lewis-Clark State was cancelled by snow. They host Division II Montana State-Billings Feb. 14-16.
#3 Embry-Riddle lost a double-header to Brewton-Parker in mid-week, 6-0 and 6-3. RHP Travis Higgs (transfer from Central Missouri) and RHP Evin Einhardt combined for the shutout for the Barons; Higgs went six innings, scattered four hits and two walks. The Eagles finally got their first win in their Sun Conference opener at Southeastern, and it took 13 innings to do it. RF Kevin Lindheim scored on a throwing error in the top of the ninth to make the score 1-1 and send it into extra innings. Pinch-hitter Matt Jacobs hit a two-RBI single in the top of the 13th to win it. RHP David Lidyard got the win; he pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowed six hits, struck out 10, didn't allow an earned run.
The Eagles won the second game of the series 9-2, and dropped the third one 4-1, making their record 2-5. Andres Cancio got the win for the Fire in the third game, went eight innings, allowed six hits, struck out 11. Southeastern is 6-2. The Eagles host South Carolina-Beaufort Feb. 14-15. Live video
#5 Oklahoma City's scheduled opening weekend against Bellevue and Hastings was cancelled by snow. They will host MidAmerica Nazarene Feb. 14-15, and #14 Bellevue Feb. 15-16. Live video
#6 York also had their season opener cancelled. They visit non-NAIA Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College Feb. 14-15, and Saint Gregory's Feb. 16.
#7 Sterling won three games against Wiley, 9-4, 10-1, and 5-0, and lost a game to Midland, 7-1. Jay Taylor and Erick Queen combined for the three-hit shutout against Wiley; Taylor allowed one hit in five innings. Three Midland pitchers combined to hold the Warriors to three hits; Josh Johnson got the win. The Warriors host Wayland Baptist Feb. 14-15, and Peru State Feb. 15.
#8 Tennessee Wesleyan lost two games to Northwestern Ohio before getting their first win of the season against Northwestern Ohio. That win was 8-7, and the Bulldogs needed three runs in the bottom of the seventh for that win. Pinch-runner Logan Dalton scored the winning run on a wild throw. Tyler Wilson got the win, allowed one hit in two innings. The Bulldogs visit #17 Southern Polytechnic Feb. 12, and host Indiana Tech Feb. 15-16.
#12 The Master's took over first place in the Golden State Athletic Conference by winning two of three at #9 Concordia-Irvine, 4-3, 4-1, and 2-3. The Mustangs took advantage of four Eagles errors in the first game; pinch-runner Bryce Clancy scored the winning run on a fielding error. Jason Karkenny got the win in relief. James Scott got the win in the second game, allowed one hit in three innings. The Eagles got all three of their runs in the fifth inning of the third game, and RF Robert Shiroky singled in the winning run. Jose Cardona got the win, allowed six hits and no earned runs over six innings.
The Mustangs host Vanguard Feb. 14-15. High quality live video The Eagles host Westmont Feb. 14-15, and Corban Feb. 16.
Other teams with good starts: Saint Thomas (FL) and Belhaven are 6-1.