May 25, 2008

(Box Score) (Play-by-Play)
(Championship Central)

LEWISTON, Idaho - No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) University's Pablo Lopez was dominant on the hill in leading Lee to a 7-1 victory over No. 8 Bellevue (Neb.) University (52-16) tonight from Harris Field at the 2008 AVISA-NAIA World Series. Lopez has been the definition of consistency for the Flames (60-8). He has now gone the distance in five of his six starts this year tying a season-best winning percentage at 10-0.

The Flames burst through for four runs in the third inning. They loaded the bases with no outs against Bellevue starter Nick Love. Chris Dubon handed Lee a 2-0 lead on a single to left. Three batters later, Edgar Mercado uncorked a fly to deep left-center that found "green" scoring Kevin Wyman and Ross Collins.

That was all the offense Lee needed behind Lopez. He gave up just one run, a solo homer to Nick Damas, in the sixth. Lopez limited the Bruins to Damas' home run and three singles. His effort came a day after BU pounded out 15 runs in the run-rule shortened win over Ohio Dominican.

The Lee offense continue to shine with two more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to close out the scoring. Two of those three runs came after two outs.

Five different Lee players recorded at least one RBI. Dubon finished 3-for-5 with two of the runs driven in. Mercado went 2-for-4 as part of the 12-hit attack for the Flames.

Love fell to 6-5 with the loss giving up four runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings. Damas led the Bruins at the plate going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

Lee won its first opening round game in this its third World Series appearance. Coming into tonight, Lee had allowed nearly eight runs per game (in five games).

The Flames take on first-round winner No. 5 Union (Ky.) on Monday, 26 at 3 p.m. PST. Bellevue battles No. 6 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on Monday at 12 p.m.