May 29, 2007

LEWISTON, Idaho - Spring Arbor (Mich.) ripped eight doubles and scored eight runs between the fifth and sixth innings, cruising to a 14-6 win in elimination play over Lindenwood (Mo.) on day four of the 2007 Avista-NAIA World Series.

Lindenwood (47-20) banged out 12 hits and was led at the plate by Ryan Shockley (3-for-5, two RBIs) and Matt Pohlman (2-for-4, three RBIs), but starting pitcher Nate Eisenbeis (9-3), who was hit with the loss, lasted only four complete, giving up six runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out three.

Brad Baker was one of three Cougars (47-4) to score three runs, ripping two doubles with an RBI, while Jeffrey Hollister and Jeffrey Tebeau also scored three times in 1-for-3 days at the plate. Jonathan Herbig was 3-for-5 with a team-best five driven in, scoring three times in the elimination win.

Andrew Paulun (7-1) tossed 5.1 innings, surrendering 10 hits and six runs while fanning two and walking three. Bobby Goike (2) got an automatic save in the win, tossing 3.2 innings of two-hit shut-out baseball.

Jesse Bachman drew a one-out walk to start the Spring Arbor first, and freshman shortstop Baker brought the speedy Bachman around with a double to the gap.

Baker stole second on the next pitch, and Spring Arbor went up 2-0 when Eric Vojkofsky blistered a double into left center to score Baker from third.

Lindenwood jumped on board with a run in the first, starting when Chris Getz laced a would-be single into center. Jon Schaible charged from deep into the outfield and left his feet in attempt to make the catch, but the ball got by, rolling to the wall as Getz was credited with a triple.

Getz came in a batter later, cutting the lead to 2-1 on a Marty Clements sacrifice fly to center.

Spring Arbor took a 5-1 lead in the third inning getting started with one out in the top of the third on a second double by Baker. The freshman got to third on a passed ball five pitches later, and Spring Arbor's two-base trend continued two batters later, as Baker scored his second run of the game on a double by Hollister to push the lead back to two.

Tebeau continued the two-out rally with another double, knocking in Hollister to make it 4-1, and the sophomore crossed to complete the three-run third a play later when Rider singled to center.

Lindenwood chipped back in the fourth, scoring two on an RBI single by Pohlman that moved Corey Hill and Chris Bielski through to make it 5-3, but Herbig got the runs back in the top of the fifth with a one-out double for a 7-3 lead.

The Cougars got one more in the fifth when Herbig broke for third and the ensuing throw ended up in left field for the inning's third run. Spring Arbor loaded the bases an inning later and with two outs, Tebeau drew an RBI walk to give the Cougars a 9-3 advantage.

Two more scored on the Cougars' next at bat when Herbig ripped one through the middle for a two-RBI single, and Rider closed the five-run rally by doubling to the gap in left, clearing the bases to make it 13-3. Rider was tossed out on the play at third, marking the eighth double of the day for Spring Arbor.

Back-to-back doubles in the sixth helped the Lions score three to close the middle innings down 13-6, but the Cougars managed to stop momentum when a one-out fly ball lifted to left field turned into a double play when Herbig cut down Shockley at third base for an inning ending double play.

A Lindenwood throwing error in the ninth tacked on one more for the Cougars, who move into Wednesday awaiting their opponent, which will be announced following Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and Bellevue (Neb.).