May 27, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - Travis Granberry hit a three-run home run to highlight a big seven-run first inning for Auburn University-Montgomery as the Senators rolled to a 14-9 win over Seton Hill in a loser-out contest at the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College's Harris Field on Saturday.

Granberry's blast was one of two home runs in the top of the first for the Senators, who improved to 48-19 on the season. Granberry finished with five RBI as every AUM starter but one collected at least one hit in the contest.

Cortez Pearson and Michael Herndon also had big games for the Senators. Herndon started the scoring in the first with a two-run single and finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. Pearson went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. AUM finished with 17 hits in the contest.

After Herndon's single in the first, Granberry followed with his blast to left field to make it 5-0. Stephen Patrick's RBI single and an error brought in the final two runs.

Auburn-Montgomery made it 8-2 with a run in the top of the third and then added three more in the fourth for an 11-2 margin. Granberry hit a bases-loaded double to plate two more.

Trailing 13-4 entering the bottom of the eight, Seton Hill came to life and scored five runs. Rick Smykla had a two-run single in the inning while an error allowed two more runs to score.  After AUM scored a run in the ninth, Seton Hill loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but failed to score.

AUM starter Jarod Cook (11-3) went six innings and allowed six his and three earned runs. He walked six and struck out three. John Bachman (8-6) took the loss, lasting 3.1 innings and giving up eight runs, only three of which were earned.

Seton Hill, which was making its first Series appearance, was coming off a disappointing 5-4 bottom-of-the-ninth-inning loss to Concordia of California on Friday. The Greensburg, Pa., team was seeded ninth in the 10-team double-elimination tournament and wound up 45-20.

Auburn-Montgomery resumes play on Monday at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time when it will take on the loser of Saturday's game between British Columbia and Bellevue.
 

-NAIA-

A leader in the development of student-athletes, the NAIA is committed to changing the culture of sport through Champions of Character. Founded in 1937, the NAIA continues to be a pioneer in implementing exceptional standards for academics, diversity, and character. Today, the NAIA sponsors 23 collegiate championships in 13 sports for its nearly 300 member institutions throughout the United States and Canada.