May 30, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - Allen Balmer's bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning helped Lewis-Clark State College edge Embry-Riddle University 11-10 in a battle of No. 1 teams at the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series at LCSC's Harris Field on Monday.

LCSC, which blew a 10-1 lead in the contest, is the No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA at 45-8 overall. However, because the Warriors are the host team in the 10-team double-elimination tournament they can't be seeded higher than third.

That left Embry-Riddle as the No. 1 seed after being ranked No. 2 in the final poll. The Eagles, who finish the year at 49-15, almost completed an amazing comeback as they trailed 10-1 entering the seventh, but pushed across four runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Justin Fuller was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to third on a single by Matt Vogel. Jessie Mier was then intentionally walked to load the bases and Balmer followed with his single past a diving first baseman Shawn Williams to score Fuller and end the game.

Embry-Riddle hurt itself early with errors as only five of the 11 runs it allowed were earned.

Mark Thompson, Vogel and Zach Adam had two hits apiece for LCSC, while Adam and Jessie Roehl drove in two runs apiece.

Embry-Riddle, which out-hit LCSC 14-12 in the game, was led by the heart of its lineup. Williams went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Derrick Pyles and Amadis Padilla both went 2-for-4. Padilla also drove in two runs.

Josh Smith started Embry-Riddle's comeback with a three-run home run in the seventh, his eight on the season.

Both teams had plenty of opportunities to do damage as Embry-Riddle stranded 10 baserunners while LCSC left 14 on.

Reliever Chris Kissock, who pitched the final 1.1 innings of hitless ball, picked up the win to go to 8-2. Josh Smith wound up with the loss to fall to 8-2.

LCSC will now play British Columbia regardless the outcome of the British Columbia-Cumberland game later Tuesday night. Pairings are changed after Tuesday's play so teams that have already played each other won't meet for a second time.

Cumberland will play Lubbock Christian in the other game on Wednesday. The winner of the British Columbia-Cumberland contest will play at 7 p.m., Pacific time on Wednesday, while the loser will play in the 3 p.m. game.

A win Wednesday would put LCSC into the championship game. LCSC is the only remaining team that hasn't received a bye.

-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.