05-22-09

Lee uses long ball to defeat Campbellsville 5-2

LEWISTON, Idaho – Chris Warters, Junior Rodriguez, and Chris Dubon all hit home runs in the first four innings to help Lee University (Tenn.) get the early jump and claim a 5-2 win over Campbellsville (Ky.) in the opening round of the 53^rd annual Avista NAIA World Series at LCSC’s Harris Field on Friday morning. 

Warters hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his 17^th of the season, to continue his torrid hitting in Series play. Last year, when Lee finished second to Lewis-Clark State, Waters hit three home runs in the tournament. 

Dubon made it 3-0 in the second inning with a solo home run to left field. It was his eighth home run of the season. 

Campbellsville’s Jimmy Voelker counted with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning for his ninth round-tripper of the year to make it 3-1. Campbellsville added a run in the third on a base-loaded walk to Brian Chase, but the Tigers left three stranded in the inning. 

Rodriguez led off the fourth with a blast to center field for his 10^th home run of the season to give Lee some breathing room.  

The Flames final run came in the seventh when a walk, a dropped fly ball and a sacrifice fly by Julian Alvarez made it 5-2. 

Flames’ starter Matthew Gilson pitched out of a couple early jams and picked up the win to improve to 11-3 overall. He went 6.2 innings and allowed seven hits, two runs, and four walks, but struck out five. Josh Rose pitched the final 2.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit. He also struck out four to earn his first save of the season. 

Cumberland’s Marc Wilson went the distance in the loss to fall to 8-1. He allowed nine hits, four earned runs and one walk. He also struck out seven. 

Lee, 51-12, advanced to Saturday’s winner bracket play where it will face top seed Lubbock Christian at 3 p.m., PST. Cumberland, 40-11, falls into the loser’s bracket and will meet the loser of the Berry-Southern Poly State contest on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in a loser-out contest. 

The 10-team double-elimination tournament continues with three games on Friday.