NAIA Opening Round, third day

Results from the third day of the NAIA Opening Round.

In Santa Barbara, CA:

Vanguard 10, British Columbia 2 (British Columbia eliminated)

This game was a pitching duel for seven innings. Ryan Heppner started for the Thunderbirds, went seven innings, struck out four, allowed five hits, one of which was a two-run home run by Marco Lopez in the second inning. The Lions starter, Quincy Vassar, got his third start of the season, went 5 1/3 innings, allowed six hits, struck out eight, and gave up two runs, an RBI single by Aaron Marsh in the fourth inning and a sacrifice fly by Marsh in the sixth inning. Vassar was relieved by Bryce Barnett, who walked the only batter he faced because of a pitch clock violation. Jackson Webber held the Thunderbirds scoreless the rest of the way, allowed three hits, two of which were in the bottom of the ninth, when they no longer mattered.

The Thunderbirds let the game get away in the top of the eighth inning. Daniel Sereda relieved Heppner and retired the first two batters he faced. He hit the next batter. He should have gotten out of the inning when the next batter, Oscar Diaz, hit a ball to Trent Lenihan at first base. Instead, he bobbled it. The next batter, Antonio Omphroy, hit a ball to Cameron Sanderson at third base. The result was, another error, and a 3-2 lead for the Lions. The next batter was Fred Buckson (transfer from Bellevue CC), and he hit a three-run home run, and the Lions led 6-2 going into the ninth inning.

Kellen Bourne, who was ejected from Monday’s game for using a prop, came on in the ninth inning. He was charged with two errors, which allowed a run to score, and also allowed Diaz to come to bat with two outs. The result was a three-run home run, and the 10-2 final score. Seven of the Lions’ runs were unearned.

Marsh and Sanderson both finished the game 2-for-3; Sanderson hit a double, and Marsh batted in both Thunderbird runs. Webber got the win, and Sereda got the loss. The Thunderbirds finished the season 35-21. Recap Box score

Benedictine-Mesa def. Vanguard 11-7. Benedictine will play Westmont on Thursday for the championship.

In Lewiston, ID:

Concordia-Ann Arbor def. Science and Arts of Oklahoma 10-4; Drew Fleming hit two home runs. The Cardinals get a rematch with Lewis-Clark State.

Lewis-Clark State 19, Concordia-Ann Arbor 7; Lewis-Clark State wins bracket

The game was tied 3-3 after three innings. However, one of the Cardinals’ runs was a home run by Kyle Hebner in the bottom of the third, and he was ejected for a bat flip after the home run. (His replacement, John Markiewicz, went 2-for-3 with zero RBI and a run scored.) The Warriors scored five runs in the top of the fourth, the first one on a sacrifice fly by Carter Booth, and the next four on a grand slam home run by Charlie Updegrave. The Cardinals answered with a grand slam home run by Drew Fleming in the bottom of the fourth, and the Warriors led 8-7. They extended the lead to 9-7 in the fifth with an RBI double by Booth, then put it away with four runs in the top of the sixth, including a three-run home run by Domenic Signorelli.

Bryson Spagnuolo, who pitched one inning, got the win. Alec Holmes, who held the Cardinals hitless over the final 3 1/3 innings, and struck out five, got a save. Cardinals starter Drew Murphy got the loss. Isaiah Thomas finished 4-for-6 with a home run, a triple, and four RBI for the Warriors. Fleming finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI. Box score