Game Accounts

The Texas Wesleyan Rams (5-2) swept a double-header (two eight-inning games) at home against the Jarvis Christian Bulldogs (7-6) by identical scores of 8-7.

First game: The Rams took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by 1B Julio Ibarra (Caracas, Venezuela) and a two-RBI single by C Aidan Laurini. They led the rest of the way. The Bulldogs got one back in the top of the second on an RBI single by DH Chase Martinez, and another in the fourth on a solo home run by C Carlos Andrade. The Rams added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by SS Casey Moses, and two more in the sixth on an RBI single by DH Dylan Measells (Stuttgart, Germany) and Ibarra scoring on a wild pitch. The Rams led 6-2 after six innings.

The Bulldogs got back into it with three runs in the top of the seventh. CF DeAndre McGuire hit a single into left field with two runners on base. The left fielder lost track of the ball. McGuire came all the way around to score, and it was a one-run ball game. The Rams answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh; LF Blake Seaton hit an RBI double, was bunted over to third, then scored on a sacrifice bunt by C Garett Crook.

DH Robert Cummins hit a walkoff RBI single with two out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Midland Warriors a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over the LSU-Shreveport Pilots. The game was part of a tournament hosted by Dallas Christian College.

A stiff wind blowing throughout the game made every fly ball an adventure, and Cummins’ game-winning hit was no exception. It was a high popup that dropped between the first baseman and right fielder.

The Pilots led 8-6 going into the bottom of the seventh, and Pilots reliever LHP Pat Day struck out the first two batters. LF Buddy Balsino walked to keep the Warriors alive. RF Nathan Virgen doubled, then pinch-hitter Chris Foster hit a two-RBI single to tie the game, and he went to second on a wild throw. He was then batted in by Cummins.

The Jarvis Christian Bulldogs (6-4) and the Tabor Bluejays (2-1, ranked #10 pre-season) split two seven-inning games. The Bulldogs won the first game 9-7, and the Bluejays won the nightcap 6-3.

First game: The Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. RF Christopher White got it started with a one-out single. 2B Alex Garcia walked, then CF DeAndre McGuire laid down a good bunt. So good that Tabor 3B Kyle James had to rush the throw to first. It was off-target, and the result was, McGuire got two RBI on the bunt. McGuire then scored The next batter, 1B Carlos Andrade, walked. DH C.J. Tyler hit an infield single, then LF Spencer Thomas hit a three-run home run.

The Bluejays got two back in the top of the fourth, on RBI singles by DH Blake Standiford and James. C Braxon Byfield hit a sacrifice fly on a good turn at bat in the top of the fifth. The Bulldogs got a run in the bottom of the first when McGuire singled, then scored when a fly ball hit by Thomas was dropped. That made the score 7-3 for the Bulldogs.

The Bluejays tied it in the top of the sixth. 1B Colton Flax hit a leadoff double, and scored when CF Brent McClure hit another double. McClure scored on a single by James. James stole second, then scored on a single by SS Abdiel Alicea (San Juan, Puerto Rico). He scored on a single by RF Jordan Harris, on a good at-bat.

The Tabor Bluejays (ranked #10 pre-season) got a win in their season opener, and the Wiley Wildcats are still looking for their first win. This was the Wildcats’ home opener.

The Wildcats had a chance. They took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth (of a seven-inning game) when Jerry Johnson, pinch-running for 3B Ruben Hancock, scored on a squeeze bunt by SS Trevor Spear. Hancock opened the inning with a double. A failed bunt attempt left him at second. He went to third on a single by 2B James Richey, and was replaced by Johnson. The inning ended when C Oswaldo Palacios grounded out, stranding runners at second and third.

The wheels came off in the top of the sixth. The Wildcats brought in reliever RHP Tre’von Thomas. He walked the first batter he faced, SS Abdiel Alicea (San Juan, Puerto Rico). The next batter flied out, then a pickoff throw from the catcher to first base went over the head of the first baseman, and nearly all the way to the right field fence. Alicea scored all the way from first, tieing the game 3-3. C Braxton Byfield, who was at bat, doubled, and was replaced by courtesy runner Kyle James, who went to third on a bad pickoff attempt by Thomas. James scored on a single by 2B Jacob Jones, giving the Bluejays a 4-3 lead. Jones ended up going to third on a passed ball, then scored when a ground ball by CF Brent McClure was bobbled by the shortstop. The inning ended with the score 5-3, and the Bluejays added two more runs in the top of the seventh, when Alicea scored on a wild pitch, and 1B Colton Flax hit an RBI double.

NAIA coaches' poll for March 22, 2016. Recaps below.

The Bellevue Bruins are ranked #1 by Perfect Game. This makes sense. The Bruins are 17-4, despite playing most of their games on the road, and have quality wins over Oklahoma City, Tabor, and Mount Vernon Nazarene.

Last week, they played six games in a tournament hosted by Warner, and won five of them, including the tournament championship game against host Warner. One of the wins was 23-0 over Saint Ambrose. Braulio Torres-Perez pitched a no-hitter for the Bruins. He struck out ten of the 23 batters he faced, and walked two batters. On the offensive side, C Jake Browne hit two home runs and a double, and batted in ten runs. RF Colton Nash, who leads the Bruins in hitting with a .443 average, went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI. Story

The Bruins won the tournament final 4-3 in ten innings. SS Connor Garrison hit an RBI single for the winning run. Kevin Rodriguez got the win in a 4 2/3 innings relief appearance; he allowed only one hit, and struck out five. Story

Torres-Perez is 4-0 for the season, has an ERA of 1.47, and has struck out 32.

A three-run home run by LF Jose Ruiz in the top of the sixth inning provided the winning run for the Acereros (Steelers).

The game was tied 1-1 going into the sixth. CF Eliezer Ortiz opened the scoring with a home run in the bottom of the third for the Rieleros (Railroaders), and 3B Olmo Rosario hit a long home run over the center field fence. Rieleros starter RHP Fredy Quintero was replaced by LHP Jose Sanchez after Quintero walked Rosario to start the sixth inning. Sanchez only faced two batters. He walked the first one, DH Brett Harper. (He was obviously having control problems.) The second batter he faced was Ruiz, and the result was the home run.

Ruiz' home run seemed to wake up the Rieleros offensively. DH Saul Soto led off the bottom of the sixth with a double. The next batter, 3B Danny Richar, drew a walk, and Soto and Richar moved to third and second on a wild pitch by Acereros starter RHP Jose Oyervidez. The next batter, C Carlos Rodriguez, hit a fly ball that was very close to being a three-run home run, but was a sacrifice fly instead. Richar moved to third. The next batter hit a popup that wasn't deep enough for Richar to come home, and he was stranded on third when a ground out ended the inning.

The Rieleros (Railroaders) of Aguascalientes entered this game one game out of the Mexican League playoffs. They played tonight like they want that playoff spot, but came up short in extra innings.

The starter for the Rieleros, Dominican Republican RHP Lorenzo Barcelo, has good credentials for playing in this league; he pitched 66 innings for the White Sox during 2000-02. He was upstaged by Acereros (Steelers) starter RHP Josh Lowey of Fort Walton Beach, FL, who played college ball at Mercer, then played several seasons of independent league ball before going to the Acereros last season. Lowey pitched six innings, allowed two runs on six hits, struck out nine. When he left the game, the Aceros had a 7-2 lead.

The lead didn't hold up. The first reliever for the Acereros, Juan Ramon Noriega, was charged with three runs on three hits, didn't record an out, and the Acereros lead was 7-5 after seven innings. (A sacrifice fly by 1B Jesus Castillo was just short of a three-run home run.) Rieleros relievers Emmanuel Torres and Jose Sanchez were able to keep the Acereos off the board in the top of the eighth. (The scoreboard in Estadio Alberto Romo Cavez doesn't show pitch speeds, but Torres was throwing some serious heat.) The Rieleros then took an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the eighth on a leadoff home run by 3B Danny Richar, followed by RBI singles by RF Carlos Ibarra and pinch-hittehr Omar Mendoza. Ibarra scored the go-ahead run, and it was the result of a defensive mistake. On his base hit, the Acereros threw home, even though the run had scored long before the throw. Ibarra was able to move to second on this throw, putting him in scoring position for Mendoza.

In every conference listed here (except the the Southern States Athletic Conference, which had a winner-take-all final), the title was decided by an “if necessary” game. ISR's mentioned here are as of May 6.

Cal State San Marcos (ISR #13) won the Association of Independent Institutions championship for the third time in five years. They lost the first “final” to #1 Georgia Gwinnett 2-1. The Grizzlies out-hit the Cougars 11-5, and SS Ernesto Vasquez hit an RBI single for the winning run. CSUSM won the deciding game 11-5. The Cougars got five runs in the first inning, and added four more in the second. LF Clinton Perez hit an RBI single for the winning run. Emilio Esquibel got his second win of the tournament, and ran his record to 12-1, 2.43 ERA. Story Georgia Gwinnett will host an Opening Round bracket.

#2 Oklahoma City won the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament, defeating #3 Oklahoma Baptist twice, 9-6 and 7-5. The Stars trailed in the late innings of both games. They scored four runs in the eighth inning of the first one. In the second one, C Connor Lynch hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth. Story Both Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Baptist are hosting Opening Round brackets.

NAIA coaches' poll for April 28, 2015, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.