May 31, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - Alberto Cruz's third home run in as many games, a monster two-run shot to right-center field in the top of the first inning, set the tone for Cumberland University as the Bulldogs moved into the driver's seat at the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series with a 10-6 win over the University of British Columbia on Tuesday.

 

Cumberland, from Lebanon, Tenn., is the only undefeated team left in the 10-team double-elimination tournament and is two wins away from capturing its second title in three years.

 

The Bulldogs, who used strong pitching efforts to roll to victories in their first two Series games, cranked up the bats against UBC and jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

 

Cruz hit his 20^th home run of the season - and tournament-leading third - highlighted a 12-hit Cumberland attack. Victor Alvarez, Steve Selph and Nolan McCue all had two hits.  Alvarez and Selph both went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Alvarez also had two RBI.

 

The Thunderbirds used five pitchers in an attempt to slow the Cumberland bats, but by the time it happened, it was too late. UBC did rally and scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to cut the margin to 9-6, but couldn't muster a final push in the ninth.

 

UBC collected only seven hits in the game and Johnny Yui was the lone T-bird with two hits. Cumberland pitchers did issue seven walks to help UBC make things interesting.

 

Cumberland starter Karl Mejlhom allowed six runs and six hits over the first seven innings to earn the win and improve to 10-3. Adam Tomlinson pitched one-hit ball over the final two innings and struck out three. British Columbia entered the game hitting better than .460 and averaging 18 runs a game in its first two Series contests, but went 7-for-33 at the plate (.212).

 

UBC starter Jeff Tobin never could find his groove and allowed seven hits and six runs in 3.1 innings. He took the loss to fall to 7-3 overall.

 

Only four teams remain as the tournament continues and Cumberland can finish no worse than third.

 

The pairings for Wednesday's action were changed so that teams that had already played wouldn't meet for a second time. That leaves No. 3 seed LCSC (45-8) tangling with No. 2 British Columbia (49-13) at 3 p.m., Pacific time, in loser-out play. No. 4 seed Cumberland (50-16) takes on No. 6 seed Lubbock Christian (49-16) at 7 p.m. A Cumberland win would put it in the championship game.

 

 

-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.