Results from the first day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID.
Marques Titialii – photo by Tucker House
Arizona Christian 17, Kansas Wesleyan 10. A game between two teams playing in this tournament for the first time. The Firestorm led 17-3 going into the bottom of the eighth, with a two-run home run by Andrew Ivy and a three-run home run by Marques Titialii. The Coyotes made the final score a bit more respectable with a three-run home run by Cruz Oxford in the bottom of the eighth, and another three-run home run by the same Oxford in the bottom of the ninth. Eli Elliott started for the Firestorm, pitched six innings, allowed three runs on four hits, struck out eight, threw 99 pitches, got the win. Box score
Reinhardt 7, Hope International 5. The Royals lead 5-2 after six innings, but the Eagles tied it with a three-run home run by Tucker Zdunich in the top of the seventh inning, then won it with a bunt single by Jarrett Burney in the top of the eighth. Eagle starter Andrew Herbert went seven innings, allowed four earned runs on nine hits, struck out four, got the win, his twelfth of the season. Box score
Tennessee Wesleyan 7, U. of the Cumberlands 4. A Cumberlands team loaded with talent is still looking for their first win in Lewiston. They managed only six hits, left 13 on base. The game was tied 4-4 after seven innings, but the Bulldogs put it away with three runs in the top of the eighth; a two-RBI double by Cayle Webster, and an RBI single by Kruise Newman. Blake Peyton started for the Bulldogs, went 5 1/3 innings, allowed two earned runs on five hits, struck out ten, threw 130 pitches. Gage Vailes went the rest of the way, allowed zero runs on one hit, struck out two, got the win. Dante Leach hit a two-run home run for the Bulldogs. Christian Thompson got three of the Patriots’ six hits, scored two runs. Box score
Indiana Southeast 6, William Carey 5. The closest game of the day. The Grenadiers led all the way, starting with a home run by Mason White in the first inning. Trevor Goodwin hit one in the third inning, and White hit another one in the fourth inning. The Grenadiers led 5-0 at that point. The Crusaders got on the board with a two-run home run by Bailee Hendon in the bottom of the fourth. The Grenadiers got what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the sixth when Slater Schield scored on a wild pitch. The Crusaders got closer with two runs scored on ground outs in the bottom of the sixth, then made it a one-run game when Hendon was balked in. Lots of good pitching by both teams; the Crusaders out-hit the Grenadiers 7-6. Grenadier starter Luke Schafer got the win; he pitched six innings, allowed five runs on five hits, struck out eight, walked five, threw 111 pitches. Garrett Hill pitched a perfect ninth inning, got a save. Luke Lycette pitched the final three innings for the Crusaders, allowed only one hit. Box score
NAIA recap: Four Upsets Define Day One of 2024 Avista NAIA World Series
Schedule for Saturday:
8:35 AM PDT: Kansas Wesleyan vs. Hope International (loser out)
11:35 AM: U. of the Cumberlands vs. William Carey (loser out)
3:05 PM: Southeastern vs. Arizona Christian
6:35 PM: Georgia Gwinnett vs. Indiana Southeast
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