Game Accounts

The NAIA Coaches' Top 25 for April 5, with Boyd Nation's ISR rankings. Recap below the fold:

First place votes: Oklahoma City 21, Lee 1

Oklahoma City ( #1) won two of three against Oklahoma Baptist (#5). The Stars won the first two games 6-5 and 6-3. Corey Theriot got the win in the first game, and his record is now 8-0. Richie Mirowski of the Bison got his first loss of the season. SS Kirk Walker and 1B Miguel Beltran hit home runs for the Stars. Allen Townsend pitched a complete game for the Stars in the second game; the Bison left the bases loaded twice. CF Ruben Sosa went 3-4 for the Stars, scored three runs. The Bison won the third game 11-10 (10 innings); RF Anthony Lopez went 3-7 for the Bison, with seven RBI. He hit a grand slam home run on the top of the ninth to give the Bison an 8-7 lead. The Stars sent it into extra innings with an RBI single by DH Julien Pollard in the bottom of the ninth. Lopez hit a three-run home run in the top of the tenth to produce the winning run.

The Stars continue to lead the Sooner Athletic Conference wih an 18-1 record. They visit Lindenwood April 9-10. The Bison host Rogers State April 7, and visit Rogers State April 9.

Lee (#2) was handed a stunning mid-week loss by Bryan. The Flames led 9-1 going into the eighth inning, but Bryan got nine runs in the eighth to get their first win over Lee in the modern history of their program. The Flames recovered with a three-game sweep of Shorter, 4-3, 9-3, and 11-10 (10 innings). In the first game, Shay Crawford had a shutout going into the ninth inning, allowed five hits, struck out nine. CF Jonathan Clark scored two of the Flames' runs, batted in the other two. The Flames survived another scare in the third game. They trailed most of the way, but tied the game in the eighth on a two-run homer by 1B Roberto Reyes. RF Michael Brown scored the winning run on a passed ball with two outs in the tenth. Lee Coach Mark Brew gave credit to 3B Preston Scoggins for an amazing catch, and C Justin Marrero for “an outstanding piece of hitting” with the double he hit prior to the Reyes home run.

The Flames are 9-0 in Southern States Athletic Conference play; they lead the SSAC East, and Brewton-Parker is second with an 11-1 record. The Flames host Tennessee Wesleyan Wednesday and visit #4 Brewton-Parker April 8-9. They get a rematch at Bryan April 12.

Embry-Riddle (#3) lost the first game of a series at Northwood (FL) 6-4, giving Ryan Vigue his second loss of the season. DH Ryan Osenton batted in three of the Seahawks' six runs including the winning run on the seventh inning, finished 3-4 with a double. The Eagles won the remaining two games of the series 10-0 and 15-3, and both games were mercy-ruled. Tucker Jensen went the seven-inning distance in the shutout, allowed four hits. 3B Steve Sabins went 2-4 with a triple and six RBI in the third game.

The Eagles are 21-3 in The Sun Conference play, and have clinched at least a share of the pennant. They have an exhibition game against the Class A Daytona Cubs on Wednesday, and visit Thomas April 9-10.

Brewton-Parker (#4) swept a double-header against Voorhees, and swept a three-game series at Truett-McConnell, 11-5, 5-1, and 4-1. Jacob Gore got the win in relief in the second game; he went 3 2/3 innings, allowed no runs on three hits, struck out six. His record is 5-3 with five saves, 2.44 ERA, 47 strikeouts.

The Barons host #2 Lee April 8-9.

LSU-Shreveport (#6) swept three games from Southwest Assemblies of God, 11-0, 11-1, and 12-5. Cole Newell and Cade Bowen combined for a three-hit shutout in the first game, Ben Suit allowed two hits in the second game, shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. The Pilots then lost two games to Division I Louisiana Tech, 3-2, and 6-0. They swept a double-header at LSU-Alexandria, 9-7 and 12-2. Suit got a save in the first game, LF Andrew Brouillette, CF Chase Wentz, and DH Cody Causey hit home runs in the second game.

Next up for the Pilots is Jarvis Christian April 8-9. They lead the Red River Athletic Conference with a 20-1 record; Northwood (TX) is second with a 19-2 rercord.

Biola (#7) swept four games against Concordia-Irvine, 8-5, 11-6, 9-3, and 7-4. Michael Andrews went 2-3 with a three-run home run in the first game. SS Johnny Farrington went 4-4 in the second game, scored three runs. 1B Brian Loard hit home runs in the third and fourth games.

The Eagles then split home and away games against Vanguard, losing at Vanguard 2-1, and winning at home 6-3. The Eagles out-hit the Lions 8-6 in the loss, but 3B Jerry Pena hit an RBI single for the Lions to win it. 2B Garrett Leon went 2-5 with a double and three RBI in the Biola win.

The Eagles have a big matchup against #8 Cal Baptist this week; at home Wednesday and Thursday, and at Cal Baptist April 9. The Eagles continue to lead the Golden State Athletic Conference with an 17-5 record. Cal Baptist is second with a 17-7 record; Fresno Pacific is third with a 16-8 record.

Cal Baptist (#8) swept four games against San Diego Christian, 8-5, 15-2, 15-9, and 5-1. 1B Josh Manzano went 2-3 with a grand slam home run in the second game. Devyn Rivera went the seven-inning distance in the fourth game, allowed six hits, struck out six. The Lancers play four games against #7 Biola Wednesday, Thursday, and April 9.

British Columbia (#9) won five of six against Corban, but the loss was the most remarkable game of the series; Corban won 4-3 in 18 innings. Justin White, Chris Trammell, Nick Stiltner, and Trevor Winsor combined to hold the Thunderbirds to ten hits. Stilter and Winsor didn't allow a run. Winsor went the final five innings, didn't allow a run. The winning run came on a hit batter.

The Thunderbirds won the first game of the series 2-1, and had two excellent defensive plays; a 5-2-6 double play by 3B Bob Foerster to C Greg Densem to SS Matt Spillman covering third. In the bottom of the ninth, CF Blake Carruthers made a season-highlight diving catch to end the game with the tying run on second, and the winning run at first. Brandon Kaye pitched a 5-0 shutout in the fourth game of the series.

The Thunderbirds host Concordia-Portland April 9-10.

Fresno Pacific (#12) won three of four against Azusa Pacific (ISR #22). The first game, an 8-7 win, went 11 innings. RF Trent Soares hit a home run in the top of the ninth to send it into extra innings, and 1B Wes Dorrell hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11^th to give the Sunbirds the lead. CF Tyler Pryor added an RBI single, and the Sunbirds needed it; the Cougars came back with two runs in the bottom of the 11^th, and left the tying run on second base, and the winning run on first.

The Sunbirds won the second game 12-7; Dorrell was 4-6 with three RBI. They won the third game 1-0; the only run of the game was a home run in the first inning by RF Trent Soares. Aaron Lynn went 8 1/3 innings for the Sunbirds, scattered five hits. Ben Ruder went the distance for the Cougars, allowed only three hits.

The Cougars won the fourth game 7-0. Jacob Cage went the seven-inning distance for the Cougars, allowed five hits.

The Sunbirds also lost an exhibition game against the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies 9-1. The game drew 5,913 fans. Story from Fresno Pacific site, with pictures and YouTube interviews: Sunbirds enjoy night under the lights at Chukchansi.

The Sunbirds visit Vanguard on Thursday, and host Vanguard April 9.

Northwood (TX) (#10) swept three games against College of the Southwest, 11-5, 15-8, and 15-8. The Knights visit Texas Wesleyan April 9-10.

Concordia-Irvine is #1 in the ISR strength of schedule, and ranked #26 in the ISR. Concordia-Portland is #2 in SoS, and Azusa Pacific is #3.