Oklahoma City (8-3) defeated Southern Nazarene 8-4 in mid-week. The Stars scored six runs in the first inning, and Blake Schwartz recorded seven strikeouts in six innings of work. The Stars then dropped two games to MidAmerica Nazarene, 8-4 and 4-2. In the first game, RF Josh Greer hit two home runs for the Pioneers, batted in five of their eight runs. In the second game, Pioneer starter Tino Luna recorded ten strikeouts in six innings, held the Stars to five hits. The Stars rebounded with two wins over Bellevue, 7-2 and 5-1. Rich Hawkins pitched a complete game in the first one, SS Chris Muñoz went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the second one. The Stars host Northwood (TX) Feb. 21, U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Feb. 23, then visit USAO Feb. 25.
Concordia-Irvine (6-4) swept three games against Patten, 9-1, 12-0, and 11-7. The first game was closer than the score indicates; see campus visit. Jake Hovis went the distance in the shutout, struck out ten. RF Ty Holm went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI in the third game. The Eagles begin their defense of their Golden State Athletic Conference championship at home against San Diego Christian Feb. 23, then visit San Diego Christian Feb. 25.
Lee (11-2) lost two midweek games, 9-3 to Union C. (KY) and 8-7 to Tennessee Wesleyan. The Flames led Tennessee Wesleyan 7-6 going into the ninth inning. They had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the ninth, and couldn't get an insurance run. Tennessee Wesleyan got two cheap runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it. The Flames swept Emmanuel over the weekend, 12-1, 2-1, and 8-5. Kris Hall struck out eleven in the mercy-rule shortened first game. The winning run in the second game came on a solo home run by 1B Roberto Reyes. The Flames trailed the third game 5-2 at one point, got a good five-inning relief effort from James Rechenbach. The Flames host Rio Grande Feb. 20 and Lindsey Wilson Feb.22, and visit U. of Mobile Feb. 24-25.
Lubbock Christian (6-4) won two of three against Tabor, winning 6-5, losing 8-6, and winning 3-2. 2B Jordan Lewis went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the first game. SS Andrew Perez went 2-for-3 for Tabor in the second game, and hit a sacrifice fly to send in the winning run. Shane Ingram got the win in the third game, allowed one run on seven hits, struck out seven. The Chaparrals visit U. of the Southwest Feb. 21, and host Oklahoma Christian Feb. 24-25. Lubbock is providing streaming video of their home games, for a fee.
Embry-Riddle (11-3) defeated Thomas (GA) 9-6 in mid-week, despite being out-hit 13-6; six Night Hawk pitchers walked ten batters and hit three more. The Eagles dropped the first game of a series with Webber International 7-2, but won the next two games 8-2 and 7-0. In the first game, Rob Lane and Robbie Payton combined to hold the Eagles to four hits; Lane went 7 2/3 innings, struck out four. This was the Eagles' first loss to Webber International since 2006. RF Ian MacGeorge went 3-for-4 with a home run in the second game, and Kevin Maloney and David Lidyard combined for the shutout in the third game. The Eagles host Brewton-Parker Feb. 21, and visit Edward Waters Feb. 25.
LSU-Shreveport (10-0) defeated Wiley 6-3 and 7-2, and a third scheduled game was canceled because of rain. Jared Mortensen struck out 12 in the first game. The Pilots then swept a double-header at Houston-Victoria, 3-1 and 12-1. CF Tyler Alton and DH Greg Friesen hit home runs in the second game. The Pilots visit Bacone Feb. 24-25.
Cumberland (6-4) defeated Milligan 13-8 and 5-2, and Lindsey Wilson 2-0 and 3-2. Devin Stovall, Cody Ferrell, Chipper Smith (four hit shutout), and Mike Mandarino got the wins. The Bulldogs visit Point Park Feb. 25.
Faulkner (10-3) lost a double-header to Lindsey Wilson, 9-1 and 7-6. Derek Cape and Jeremy Greene combined for a two-hitter in the first game; Cape struck out eight. The Eagles opened their Southern States Athletic Conference schedule winning two of three against Auburn-Montgomery, losing the first game 3-2 and winning the next two 8-1 and 7-1. Cory McGinnis got the win for the War Hawks in the first game; he struck out nine. In the third game, Matt Creel went 7 2/3 innings, allowed only three hits, and went 2-for-5 with two RBI at the plate. The Eagles host Brewton-Parker Feb. 24-25. Faulkner provides streaming video of their home games.
Okahoma Baptist (8-1) defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan 9-6, and swept a double-header against Central Methodist 6-3 and 8-0. LF Michael Sliger hit two home runs in the second game, and C Dillon Usiak added another. Chris Rogers, Daniel Marti, and Sean Simonz combined for the three-hit shutout. The Bison then split a double-header with Doane, losing 6-3, and winning 9-3. Chance Brull got the win in the first game; he and two other pitchers held the Bison to four hits. Usiak went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI, and Johnathan Christensen, Simonz, and Jesus Carlos held Doane to three hits. Carlos was especially sharp; he struck out four of the six batters he faced. The Bison visit Division II East Central on Feb. 21, and host York Feb. 24-25.
Biola (6-7) started the week with two losses to Division II teams, 20-6 to Cal State-Los Angeles and 9-7 ro Cal State-Dominguez Hills. They split two games with British Columbia, winning 7-2 and losing 7-6. The win was Biola Head Coach John Verhoeven's 500th. In the second game, Thunderbird CF Blake Carruthers hit one of the longest home runs in school history; it cleared the fence and a 40 foot net on its way out onto a road. They split two games with Simpson, losing 8-1 and winning 15-5. Adrian DeMar got the win for Simpson in the first game; he went six innings, allowed five hits, struck out eight. The Eagles start their GSAC season at Azusa Pacific Feb. 23-24, and host Azusa Pacific Feb. 25.
More teams doing well: Georgetown C. is 9-0, Rogers State is 13-1, Corban is 7-1, and Lewis-Clark State, C. of Idaho, and Bryan are 9-2.