LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 4 Lee (Tenn.) scored four first-inning runs and never looked back in eliminating No. 7 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 10-7 in Game 17 of the 54th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field this afternoon. With the victory, the Flames will have a World Series rematch, this time in the first championship game, with No. 2 Cumberland (Tenn.) tonight at 7 p.m. PDT. The two teams combined for six home runs in the 11-9 Cumberland win back on Tuesday.

Lee needs to defeat Cumberland twice to earn its first World Series title. The Bulldogs are undefeated (4-0) at the World Series and are looking for their second trophy (2004).

A team that has scored in the first inning in each of its four World Series games, Lee sprinted out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. The Flames played “small-ball” knocking around four singles and using their speed. JJ Costantino led off the game with a single. He moved up on a wild pitch, the first of two by starter Justin Zinkovich in the inning, and was driven in by a single from Tanner Moore. Three more singles later, including a two-RBI knock by Edgar Molina, and Lee led 4-0.

Embry-Riddle started to chip away in the first inning, a theme for the Eagles all Series long. In all five games, Embry-Riddle has trailed but has been able to come back. Not in this game. Lee freshman starter David Eskew, in his first appearance on the mound since April 29, was good enough to lift the Flames to tonight’s game. Eskew went 6 2/3 innings as he allowed five runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked three. His numbers were not eye-popping but he never allowed the lead-off hitter to reach base in his first six innings of work.

Working from behind 4-0, Embry-Riddle’s Roper-Hubbert scored Jeff Lemon on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. Roper-Hubbert recorded his team-high seventh RBI of the Series.

After Lee added a single run in the fourth inning on a Trey Burstrom single, Embry-Riddle cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the frame. Austin Goolsby hit the big blow, a two-run homer to right-field. That was the closest that the Eagles would come.

The Lee offense kept up the scoring pace putting up four more in the fifth. Edgar Molina, who had a career-day with three hits and five RBIs, blasted a three-run roundtripper. Burstrom followed with his second RBI-single of the game. At that point, Lee led 9-3.

Embry-Riddle followed with two runs in the sixth inning. With two outs, pinch-hitter Matt Tamaszewski ripped a triple down the right-field line and his hit drove in two runs.

An error by the Embry-Riddle defense allowed one run in the seventh inning to give Lee a 10-5 lead. Heading into the ninth inning and down by five runs, Embry-Riddle put a slight scare into the Lee lead. Steve Sabins knocked out a run-run homer, his third of the Series. But the lead was too much for the Eagles as they ended their season with a 47-19 record.

Eskew improved to 6-1 on the year. He got some help out of the bullpen. Nolan Rudman tossed 2 1/3 innings and was perfect until the ninth inning, when he allowed the blast by Sabins.

Molina, who entered the game batting .167 (2-for-12) in the Series, went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored for Lee. Four other Flames posted two hits apiece.

Zinkovich suffered the loss, falling to 10-4 on the year. He went 3 1/3 innings in the start as he gave up five runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked three.

Sabins finished the day as one of the most productive Eagles with a 2-for-4 day. Mike Jutkiewicz went 2-for-4 at the plate as well.

GAME NOTES: Lee has now scored 11 total runs in the first inning (in four games) in the World Series this year… The Flames have scored 8.5 runs per game in four World Series games this year… In its ninth World Series, Embry-Riddle falls to 16-18… Lee betters its World Series record to 11-9 all-time in its fifth appearance… Lee is 0-2 in one prior title game, losing in back-to-back games to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in 2008… Cumberland stands 1-2 in three previous trips to the title game.