May 26, 2007

LEWISTON, Idaho - Michael Crabtree went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored as Houston Baptist (Texas) got on the board early Saturday, beating and eliminating Cumberland (Tenn.) with a 5-2 win in the 2007 Avista-NAIA World Series at Harris Field in Lewiston.

HBU starter Matthew Headley (12-4) tossed a complete game to get the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits with six strike outs.

Houston Baptist (41-20) got an early pair in the bottom of the first inning, starting with leadoff hitter Ryan Majewski's single into left that was followed by a Chad Hebert single into center. With two on, Greg Gossett, who went 4-for-5, put down a bunt that was fielded by Cumberland (48-20-1) pitcher Zach Whitmer. Whitmer stared down the play at third before deciding not to make the throw on the lead runner, leaving the bases loaded on a bunt single.

One batter later, Crabtree brought Majewski and Hebert across with a two-run double to deep right field.

The Huskies got two more in the third inning, led-off by a right-center field double from Gossett and a bobble by the Cumberland centerfielder. Crabtree got his third RBI of the game on the next HBU at-bat, driving in Gossett with a single down the right field line. Crabtree moved to second on a walk and third on a sacrifice bunt, and the Huskies plated their second run of the inning when second baseman Diego Castillo ripped a single into left, bringing Crabtree across to make the score 4-0.

The Bulldogs got two back in the top of the fourth, beginning with an Eric Moll solo home run to right that slimmed the lead to three. Jeremy Wilson then reached on a fielder's choice, but a wild throw on the double-play attempt put the Bulldog right fielder at second with one out. Wilson would later score on an RBI single by Bush, cutting the lead to 4-2.

In the fifth, Houston Baptist added insurance with its final run, set up by designated hitter Jay Prigmore's two-out single into left field. Castillo lifted a fly ball into center that looked to be the end of the inning, but the ball fell out of the fielder's glove, allowing Prigmore to score from first, putting the Huskies up 5-2.

Headley took over for the final four innings, allowing only five more Cumberland base runners through the game's last 12 outs. Majewski finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored, as HBU's first four batters each scored once in the game in addition to Prigmore's run in the fifth.

Whitmer (8-5) took the loss for the Bulldogs, going seven innings and surrendering five runs on 13 HBU base hits. Whitmer fanned seven in the game. Houston Baptist moves into Monday's portion of the elimination bracket, taking on the loser of today's contest between Walsh (Ohio) and Spring Arbor (Mich.). Cumberland ends its season after entering the World Series on Region XI and South Central Super Regional playoff titles.