May 29, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - It's safe to say the Cumberland University baseball team was on "Cruz" control Monday at the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series. The University of British Columbia is simply cruising.

Both Cumberland and UBC rolled to victories during Memorial Day and stand as the only undefeated teams left from the original 10-team double-elimination tournament field.

Only one will be undefeated after Tuesday's action as the No. 4 seed Bulldogs (49-16) and the No. 2 seed Thunderbirds (49-12) square off at 7 p.m., Pacific time. The winner will be guaranteed no worse than a third-place finish.

Both teams posted impressive victories on Monday. Alberto Cruz's grand-slam home run in the fourth inning aided a strong pitching performance from Zach Whitmer to help Cumberland knock off top seed Embry-Riddle University 7-2. It marked the third straight year Cumberland defeated Embry-Riddle. This time, the Bulldogs scored six runs in the third inning, four on Cruz's 19^th home run of the season.

Meanwhile, UBC rolled past Lubbock Christian University 23-5 by scoring 19 runs in the fifth through eighth innings. Connor Janes had a huge game by going 4-for-4 at the plate with six RBI and four runs scored. Ian Prescott added  three-run home run and drove in four runs.

In elimination games on Monday, both No. 5 seed Auburn University-Montgomery and No. 3 seed Lewis-Clark State College remained alive. AUM rallied to defeat Bellevue University of Nebraska 7-6 in 10 innings, while LCSC hammered Concordia of Irvine, Calif., 17-2. Bellevue finishes the season at 41-19, while Concordia winds up 34-17-1.

Travis Granberry's walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 10^th lifted AUM to the wild win. Bellevue seemed to have the game won after scoring twice in the top of the ninth for a 6-4 lead, but AUM answered with two runs, both scoring with two outs, to force extra innings.

Jessie Mier and Matt Vogel each hit three-run home runs in a seven-run fourth inning and Allen Balmer added five hits to power LCSC to its win.

Because rules stipulate that teams who have already met in the tournament can't meet for a second time this early, the loser-out games had to be repaired. Lubbock Christian was scheduled to meet LCSC a second time, but now the No. 6 seed Chaparrals, 48-16 overall, will meet Auburn-Montgomery, 49-19, at 11 a.m., Pacific time Tuesday. LCSC, 44-8, and No. 1 seed Embry-Riddle, 49-14, will meet at 3 p.m.

-NAIA-

A leader in the development of student-athletes, the NAIA is committed to changing the culture of sport through Champions of Character. Founded in 1937, the NAIA continues to be a pioneer in implementing exceptional standards for academics, diversity, and character. Today, the NAIA sponsors 23 collegiate championships in 13 sports for its nearly 300 member institutions throughout the United States and Canada.