|
LEWISTON, Idaho -- Scott Swinson
tossed a four-hitter and No. 4 Lee University (Tenn.) (51-11) took advantage
of some costly mistakes by the Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) (48-4)
defense as the Flames burned the Warriors 8-0 at the 54th annual Avista-NAIA
World Series at LCSC's Harris Field on Monday night.
Swinson,
a senior right-hander, was simply overpowering against a Warrior offense
that averaged 8.2 runs and hit .306 during the season. The 6-foot-2,
190-pounder threw 117 pitches, including 80 for strikes, to keep the
tournament's No. 1 seed and the NAIA's top-ranked team in check. He struck
out 11, walked one, and allowed only one Warrior base-runner to reach
second.
"I tried to keep them off-balance and we put some runs on the
board," said Swinson. "It was a pleasure to pitch here, just an experience.
I'm glad they (Lewis-Clark State) brought 5,200 fans (5,225). We are happy
to be here and now we have to concentrate on playing tomorrow."
Swinson improved to 11-0 on the season and helped Lee stay undefeated in the
10-team double-elimination tournament. The Flames, seeded No. 4, improve to
51-11 on the season and are guaranteed no worse than a fourth-place finish.
While Lee was rolling, the Warriors were reeling in dropping to 48-4 on
the season. LCSC, which had its 18-game win streak snapped, committed four
errors which led to only three of Lee's eight runs being earned. It's only
the third time in 152 World Series games LCSC has been shut out and the
first time this season it has been blanked. The four hits also were a season
low and the margin of defeat tied its worst loss in Series history.
It easily could have been worse because Lee left 15 runners stranded,
including the bases loaded in both the second and fourth innings.
Lee
picked up a run in the top of the first off LCSC starter Tyler Lichty when
Junior Rodriguez was hit by a pitch with two outs. After a single by Jose
Cuevas, Michael Brown followed with a ground ball to LCSC shortstop Josh
Ashenbrenner, who fired to first, but LCSC first baseman Brian Gaylord
couldn't handle the throw, which allowed Cuevas to score from second.
Lee used a walk, a throwing error and a single on a bunt to load the
bases with no outs in the second. LCSC looked like it might escape out of
the jam after a force out at home and a pop up, but Rodriguez drew a
bases-loaded walk to bring in a run.
The Flames added a run in the
sixth when Tanner Moore singled and eventually scored on a double by Brown.
Lee then broke the game open with two runs in the seventh and three more in
the eighth. Seth Walker started the rally in the seventh with a single and
eventually scored on a fielding error. JJ Costantino added an RBI double in
the inning.
The final three runs for the flames came when an error
allowed a runner to reach base to start the eighth and Brown followed with
an RBI double. A hit batter and walk eventually loaded the bases and
consecutive runs came in on a fielder's choice grounder and a wild pitch.
In the meantime, Swinson mowed through the Warrior lineup, retiring
eight in a row at one point. Only Pat Murray and Jason Hague had Swinson's
number as both finished with two hits. The rest of the Warrior lineup was
0-for-24.
Brown went 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Walker was 2-for-4
with two runs scored.
Lichty took the loss to fall to 4-1. He gave up
three hits and two unearned runs in 4.2 innings. He also walked five and
struck out five. Tim Stuvland went the next four innings and gave up seven
hits and six runs, three of which were earned. In all, Lichty and Stuvland
combined for eight walks.
Tuesday's action features three games.
Oklahoma City faces Point Loma Nazarene at 11 a.m., followed by Embry Riddle
and Lewis-Clark State at 3 p.m., both in loser-out play. Tuesday's late game
has the two tourney unbeatens, Cumberland and Lee, facing off at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Lewis-Clark State is
shut out for the first time in the World Series in the last 22 games (5-0
vs. Embry-Riddle in 2005)... Lee improves to 10-8 in the World Series and
wins at least two games for the third straight season... Lewis-Clark State
falls to 84-19 in the World Series when played in Lewiston.
|