NEWS RELEASE


 

2004 Avista NAIA Baseball World Series
Press release

 Tuesday, June 1 – Game 13

#1 Oklahoma City (72-6) def. #6 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) (41-19) 10-2

LEWISTON, Idaho – Ted Ledbetter slugged two of Oklahoma City’s four home runs and finished with five RBI to help top seed Oklahoma City University remain alive with a 10-2 win over No. 6 seed Mount Vernon Nazarene in loser-out play at the 48th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field on Tuesday.

Ledbetter, who is up for NAIA Player of the Year honors after batting .505 on the season, hit his second home run of the Series in the first inning and added his third, and 19th overall this season, with a three-run blast in the fifth.

Ledbetter got the Stars rolling in the first after Cameron Clarke reached on an error. The senior right-field slugged a two-run home run to straight away center off Mount Vernon Nazarene starter Adam Rowe, who was making his second start of the Series.

Mount Vernon Nazarene, which finishes the season at 41-19, struck back for a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Chris McKinney, but the Cougars were unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities early by stranding eight baserunners in the first four innings and 12 overall.

OCU added a run in the fourth on a rare inside-the-park home run at Harris Field. Leadoff hitter Denver Kitch hit a line drive off the wall in left-center and the ball shot past left-fielder Tim Martini, who eventually retrieved the ball but Kitch was able to slide in ahead of the relay throw.

The Stars broke the game open in the sixth inning with five runs for an 8-1 advantage. Two bunt singles helped load the bases and Scott Balster drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Clarke singled in a run and Ledbetter followed with a three-run blast to right field. Ledbetter finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored to go along with the five RBI. Tony Sanguinetta added a two-run home run to center in the ninth inning to complete OCU’s scoring.

Mount Vernon Nazarene picked up its final run in the ninth when Dan Matheney singled, went to third on a double by Jason Irish and scored on a ground out by Justin Clarey. Irish had three hits for the Cougars, while Kyle Peters and McKinney had two each.

OCU starter Grant Hansen pitched his way out of trouble and wound up going eight innings, allowing seventh hits and one run. He also struck out six and walked four to improve to 13-0 on the season.

Adam Rowe, who lost a 2-0 heartbreaker to Lewis-Clark State in the opening round, took the loss again, this time allowing nine hits and eight runs in six innings. He finishes the season at 10-3.

OCU returns to action Wednesday at either 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. The pairings for Wednesday won’t be announced until play is completed on Tuesday.