Schedule for the first two days of the 61^st NAIA Baseball National Championship, Friday-Saturday, May 26-27, Harris Field, Lewiston, ID (all times PDT):

8:30 AM: #7 seed Science and Arts of Oklahoma (47-15) vs. #10 The Master's (39-21)

Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chikasha, OK) is making their second appearance at the Baseball National Championship. They went two-and-out last year, and were taken out by The Master's. The Drovers win the United Nations award for the second straight year; they have an Australian, five Puerto Ricans, and a Dominican Republican.
Nickname: Drovers
Rankings: #19 in coaches' poll, #27 in ISR. Strength of Schedule: #37
Quality wins: 3-1 vs. Bellevue, Davenport, 3-1 vs. Friends, Oklahoma Baptist
Top position players: UTL Christian Perez (.434, 10 HR, 59 RBI, Bayamon, Puerto Rico), RF Randy Ventura (.429, 10 HR, 52 RBI, Carolina, Puerto Rico), C Dillon White (.410, 15 HR, 80 RBI). White's 80 RBI are fifth-best in the NAIA.
Top pitchers: LHP Francis Ventura (10-1, 1.64 ERA, 88 K), LHP Jose Hidalgo (9-1, 2.04 ERA, 85 K), RHP Ruddy Estrella (1-1, 2.49 ERA, 29 K), LHP Carson Korff (8-0, 2.56 ERA, 52 K). Ventura's ERA is third-lowest in the NAIA, and lowest of the pitchers in this tournament. Hidalgo's ERA is 15^th-lowest.
Coach: Mike Ross, 13^th season
Outlook: The Drovers had to beat a really good Bellevue team twice and a good Davenport team to get here. This is a tough first round matchup for both teams.

The Master's (Santa Clarita, CA) is making their fourth appearance at the Baseball National Championship. They went 1-2 in last year's tournament. The win was 6-1 over Science and Arts of Oklahoma; RHP Brad Lohse pitched a complete game. They won the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament by winning five straight after losing the opening game.
Nickname: Mustangs
Rankings: Unranked in coaches' poll, #7 in ISR. SoS: #6
Quality wins: 4-1 vs. Menlo, 2-0 vs. Georgia Gwinnett. Defeated Hope International twice in GSAC tournament.
Top position players: C Jonah Jarrard (.413, 12 HR, 46 RBI), 3B Michael Sexton (.401, 16 HR, 59 RBI), CF Max Maitland (.351), SS Aaron Shackelford (.316, 14 HR, 50 RBI), 1B David Sheaffer (262, 8 HR, 59 RBI)
Top pitchers: RHP Danny Lutz (2-1, 2.53 ERA, 29 K), RHP Aaron Alexander (10-4, 2.84 ERA, 95 K), RHP Robert Winslow (8-5, 2.92 ERA, 97 K), RHP Jason Karkenny (5-2, 4.28 ERA, 49 K)
Coach: Monte Brooks, 21st season
Outlook: After a slow start, the Mustangs went 24-4 since March 25, and enter this tournament with a nine-game winning streak. Preview from The Master's College.

NAIA coaches' poll for May 2, 2017, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

NAIA coaches' poll for April 18, 2017, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

NAIA coaches' poll for April 4, 2017, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

NAIA coaches' poll for March 21, 2017, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

NAIA coaches' poll for March 7, 2017, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

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.

#9 Missouri Baptist split a double-header with Bryan at the beginning of the week, 4-3 and 3-4. The loss in the second game was their first of the season. The Spartans were outhit 8-5 in the first game, but they got two unearned runs, and a two-RBI single by DH Aaron Pangilinan. The second game was tied 2-2 going into the seventh and final inning. 2B Cody Rhinehart hit a two-RBI single in the top of the ninth to win it. RB Eli Roundtree hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, but Lions reliever Zeke Colby recorded a strikeout to end it. Colby got the win; he and starter RHP Hunter Tipton held the Spartans to five hits. Story

The Spartans lost six games to weather. The host Missouri Valley March 3, and Lindenwood-Belleville March 6-7.

The Lions are 15-4, and two of their pitchers, Francisco Colin and Kenny Knudsen, have pitched no-hitters this season. They also lost games to weather, but replaced them with games against Division III Covenant, which they won, 5-1 and 5-2. Knudsen went the seven-inning distance in the second game, allowed four hits. He leads the NAIA with 46 strikeouts, and has an ERA of 0.56. The Lions host Judson March 2-3, and visit Point March March 6-7.

#2 Lewis-Clark State was off this week. They host Corban in a non-conference series March 7-8. (audio)

#3 Oklahoma Wesleyan got a pair of mid-week wins over Division II Rogers State, 7-1 and 7-5, then lost four scheduled games to weather. SS Avery Flores went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the first game against Rogers State. In the second game, 3B Zair Koeiman hit a two-RBI double for the winning run. Three Eagles pitchers held the Hillcats to four hits, but the Hillcats got two unearned runs on three errors by the Eagles. The Eagles host #4 Oklahoma Baptist March 3, and visit Bethany March 6-7.

#9 Missouri Baptist (#1 according to Perfect Game) had four scheduled games canceled. They will play in a tournament at Campbellsville Feb. 26-28, against Campbellsville and Saint Francis (IN), but it's not clear if those games will happen, either (video).

#1 Cumberland had five scheduled games canceled. They are scheduled to host Freed-Hardeman Feb. 24 (video), visit #6 Georgia Gwinnett Feb. 25, and host Marygrove, a new baseball program, Feb. 27-28 (video). Marygrove also lost some games to weather, so the series at Cumberland will be their first-ever baseball games.

#2 Lewis-Clark State split four games with Division II Western Oregon, 11-0, 4-6, 8-4, and 0-5. Beau Kerns pitched a complete game shutout in the first game. He allowed six hits, recorded nine strikeouts. It was his third straight complete game, and he has an ERA of 1.00. 2B Cabe Reiten and 1B Seth Brown both hit three-run home runs. Reiten also hit a double, and was 3-for-4. C Chadwick Ka'alekahi was also 3-for-4 with a double. Story The Wolves led the second game the entire way, starting with a two-RBI double by LF Matt Taylor in the first inning. Reiten went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the third game, and he has had at least one hit in every game the Warriors have played this year. Story Michael Bennett, Shawn Domke, and Jacob Storedahl combined for the shutout in the fourth game. Three of the Wolves' runs came on a mis-played popup by Taylor. Story

The Warriors are now 10-5. They don't play again until March 7, when they host Corban.

#1 Cumberland has started the season 0-7. They had a midweek loss at #23 Tennessee Wesleyan, 13-7, then got swept at home by #9 Missouri Baptist, 5-3 (10 innings), 13-5, and 7-3. 3B Ridge Hoopi-Haslam was the star for Tennessee Wesleyan; he went 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple, four RBI, and three runs scored. In the first game against Missouri Baptist, Bulldogs starter Jake Collier had a shoutout going into the ninth inning, but gave up a two-run home run by pinch-hitter Timothy Cusick to send it into extra innings. RF Eli Roundtree hit an RBI single in the top of the tenth for the winning run. Story The defending champions led the second game 5-0 after three innings, but the Spartans put it away with a five-run sixth inning, led by a two-RBI single by 2B Aaron Collazo. Randy Wynne got the win in relief for the Spartans; he allowed only one hit over the final 5 1/3 innings, struck out five. The winning run in the third game game on a two-RBI double by SS Brent Zimmerman in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs visit Bethel Feb. 17, and host Judson Feb. 21-22 (video).

Missouri Baptist is now 9-0. The Spartans host the Clayton Pfeiffer Invitational Tournament Feb. 20-21, with Saint Francis (IN) and non-NAIA Morthland.

#2 Lewis-Clark State went 5-2 on their California tour, with wins over San Diego Christian, 9-4 and 7-6, #18 Concordia-Irvine 7-3, Cal State San Marcos 8-3, and non-NAIA Bethesda 7-5. They lost to Cal State San Marcos 10-3, and Concordia-Irvine 4-3. In the first game against San Diego Christian, the Warriors were held to one run over the first seven innings by Anthony Carrizosa, but erupted for seven runs in the top of the ninth off three different Hawks relievers. The Hawks had only five hits. Starter Ty Jackson went five innings, allowed three runs on two hits, struck out seven, got a no-decision. Nick Sagendorf got the win, pitched the final two innings, struck out four of the six batters he faced. The Warriors had a 6-0 lead in the second game after four innings, but the Hawks answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors got the winning run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by C Julian Ramon. The Hawks made it a one-run game when 1B Luke Bando reached on an error, allowing pinch-runner Gordy Smith to score. However, they left the tying run on third, and the winning run on first. Story SS Max Whitt his a grand slam home run in the win over Concordia, and 1B Seth Brown also hit a home run. Beau Kerns pitched a complete nine-inning game in the win over Cal State San Marcos, and 3B Michael Sexton went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBI. 3B Robert Smith Jr. went 4-for-4 with a three-run home run and five RBI against Bethesda, and his two-RBI single in the top of the ninth provided the winning run.

Starter Addison Domingo got the win for Cal State San Marcos. He held the Warriors to one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, struck out seven. DH L.A. Gamo batted in five of the Cougars' runs, went 2-for-3 and drew two walks. In the loss to Concordia, the Warriors out-hit the Eagles 10-4, but the Eagles got two runs on a home run by DH Dane Vande Guchte, and runs on an RBI single by CF Mitchell Esser and a sacrifice fly by C Neil Lawhorn. Starter Robbie Ingram got the win, allowed one earned run over seven innings.