May 27, 2007

LEWISTON, Idaho - Marty Clements went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored, as Lindenwood (Mo.) scored six in the eighth and held on to beat top-seeded Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 14-9 in the final game of the second day of the 2007 Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Chris Getz and Mike Parson also came up big for the Lions, as Getz was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and Parson went 2-for-3, scoring three times in the win. Two Lions posted three RBIs in the game, including catcher Travis McConnell in a 2-for-4 outing and Ryan Kopp, the designated hitter, who went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored.

Azusa Pacific (50-9) got a 3-for-5, three RBI outing from Kirk Nieuwenhuis, while Eddie Crespo went 3-for-4 and James O'Neill finished 2-for-2. Reliever Zach Pettikas took the loss for the Cougars, who move into an elimination game on Monday at Noon. David Fields pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Lions, who will take on Bellevue (Neb.) on Monday at 3 p.m.

Lindenwood (47-18) went into the eighth down 9-8, and the Lions started the inning with a double into right field by Tim Hall, who advanced to third on a single by Getz and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 9-9. Justin Lamar came on to pinch run for Getz in the inning, and Clements brought Lamar home on a double to left to give the Lions a 10-9 lead.

Clements moved to third on a second wild pitch, coming home to extend the lead to 11-9 on an RBI base hit by reserve outfielder Corey Hill. McConnell then stood in and was hit by a pitch to put two aboard for Kopp, who blasted a 3-0 pitch over the right field wall for the game's final three runs.

Lindenwood jumped out to an early lead with runs in the second and third innings before Azusa Pacific stormed back for five in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. Neiuwenhuis helped bring home three of the runs, doubling with the bases loaded before being thrown out at third to end the inning.

The Lions fired back in their half of the fifth, however, scoring on a pair of two-RBI base hits and an RBI single from Chris Bielski.

Azusa looked to take control in the sixth, taking a two-run lead with four runs in the inning, scoring on five hits and two errors. Lindenwood set up its eighth-inning rally by scoring a single seventh inning run, as Parson scored on a McConnell single through the left side.

Play resumes in the 2007 NAIA-Avista World Series after a day off Sunday, with games beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday.