May 28, 2008

(Official Bracket)
(Championship Central)

DAY 4 SCORES
No. 7 Spring Arbor (Mich.) University (40-8) def. No. 5 Union (Ky.) College (48-18), 8-7
No. 2 Oklahoma City University (57-11) def. No. 6 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) University (44-18), 11-6
No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) University (62-8) def. No. 3 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) College (55-7), 5-2

DAY 4 RECAPS
In the first game of the day, Spring Arbor (Mich.) battled back from an early 5-0 deficit and scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to overcome Union (Ky.) 8-7. Jonathan Herbig made his only hit count. Spring Arbor's right fielder drove in his team's fourth run in the bottom of the ninth and his walk-off single completed the Cougars comeback. Down 7-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Herbig delivered a walk-off base hit to right on a 1-1 pitch from losing pitcher Chaz Bargo.

Kirk Walker went 4-for-6 with two RBI and David Dennis drove in three runs to help No. 2 Oklahoma City University defeat Embry-Riddle (Fla.) University 11-6 in a loser-out contest in the second game of the day. The Stars, 57-11, collected 16 hits in the game, but unlike its previous games when it used their big bats to produce runs, the Stars relied more on manufacturing runs. The Stars had 13 singles in the contest and scored three runs through sacrifice flies and two on wild pitches. Those plays helped OCU break a 2-2 tie with four runs in the fifth inning and four more in the seventh to keep its title hopes alive.

Dallas Sims and Pablo Lopez combined on a five-hitter as top seed Lee (Tenn.) University moved into the driver's seat by defeating two-time defending champion Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) College 5-2 on Tuesday night. The win lifts Lee to 62-8 and leaves the Flames as the only undefeated team left in the 10-team double-elimination tournament. There are only four teams left and Lee is guaranteed a berth in the championship game in all but one scenario. The Flames are guaranteed no worse than a third-place finish, which will be their highest finish ever in the Series.

SEMIFINAL GAMES - Wednesday, May 28 (Harris Field)
Semifinal No. 1 - No. 3 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) (55-7) vs. No. 7 Spring Arbor (Mich.) (40-8), 3 p.m. PST
Semifinal No. 2 - No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) (62-8) vs. No. 2 Oklahoma City (57-11), 7 p.m. PST

SEMIFINAL FUN FACTS
Lee University (62-8)
...guaranteed with their highest finish (third) in World Series history by virtue of being the only undefeated
team - the Flames had only won one game heading into 2008.
...will be meeting Oklahoma City for the first time in the World Series.
...looking to become the first No. 1 seed to win the World Series since teams were seeded beginning in
2003.
...its pitching staff has allowed a Series-low 18 base hits in 27.0 innings thus far. They own a 3.00 ERA,
just points below Lewis-Clark State for the lowest mark.
...Starting pitcher Pablo Lopez earned the complete-game, four-hitter in the opening round win over
Bellevue. He struck out nine batters. Three days later, he sat down Lewis-Clark State in three innings of
shut-out ball. Overall in two appearances this World Series, he owns a 0.75 ERA in 12.0 innings giving up one run and five base hits.
...Brian Bistagne is among the leaders in the World Series batting 8-for-12 (.667) with five RBI and four runs scored.
...Chris Warters leads the remaining participants with two home runs. He has a team-high 19 on the season.

Oklahoma City University (57-11)
...has won eight of its last 11 World Series games heading into Wednesday.
...has never faced Lee in the World Series.
...in last World Series appearance, won the title in 2005.
...David Dennis is second among World Series players with seven RBI through three games.
...a team known for its power, OCU has bashed just two homers in three games. On the year, they have tallied an NAIA record 146 roundtrippers, an average of 2.1 per game.
...leading the remaining participants in double-plays recorded at eight, OCU turned four in the win over Spring Arbor. Those four were a part of a World Series record-tying six between the two clubs.
...tied an NAIA World Series record by using seven pitchers in the 9-5, 12-inning loss to Lewis-Clark State.
...as a team, is a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases through three games in the WS.

Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) College (55-7)
...had their seven-game World Series winning streak snapped in the loss to Lee.
...looking to improve on their 2-0 record in World Series action against Spring Arbor with both wins coming last year.
...Kyle Greene is among the World Series leaders with a .417 average (5-for-12) with 6 RBI.
...leads the remaining Tournament field in runs scored (30) and extra-base hits with 15 (8 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 5 HRs).
...owns the most Championships (15), wins (113) and appearances (27) than any other baseball program.
...trying to avoid losing back-to-back games in the World Series since 2004 - a streak of 21 games.
...in the loss to Lee, the top five hitters went a combined 0-for-18.

Spring Arbor University (40-8)
...is making its second straight Semifinal appearance in the World Series advancing to the title game in 2007.
...stands 0-2 against Lewis-Clark State in all-time World Series with both losses coming last year.
...ranks first in total base hits among Semifinal participants with 42. Of those 42 hits however, the Cougars have hit only one home run and six extra-base hits (1 HR, 5 2Bs), the lowest amount of extra-base hits.
...Jesse Bachman leads all World Series players with 10 hits and is batting .588 (10-for-17) with five runs scored.
...Spring Arbor came back from a four-run, ninth inning hole to defeat Union, 8-7 on Tuesday. The four runs scored in the bottom of the ninth was the most scored by a team in the final at-bat since 2003 when Bellevue plated six in the bottom of the ninth to beat Biola 11-8.*

BRACKETOLOGY
Here are the scenarios that will play out for the final two days, based on Wednesday's Semifinal match-ups.
If Lee defeats Oklahoma City...
...Lee will play the winner of Lewis-Clark State and Spring Arbor on Thursday in the Championship game. Since Lee would be the lone unbeaten, they would have two cracks at the title. If Lee loses on Thursday, the Flames would play again on Friday in the "If Necessary" game.
If Lee loses to Oklahoma City...
...Lee will play Oklahoma City again on Thursday if Spring Arbor wins against Lewis-Clark State. If the Warriors take down Spring Arbor, Lee will have a bye on Thursday and face the winner of Oklahoma City and Lewis-Clark State to be played out on Thursday.
If Oklahoma City defeats Lee...
...Oklahoma City will take on Lee on Thursday if Spring Arbor defeats Lewis-Clark State. In the event that LCSC beats Spring Arbor, the Stars will play the Warriors on Thursday with the winner advancing to the title game Friday.
If Oklahoma City loses to Lee...
...Oklahoma City will end its season at 57-12.
If Spring Arbor defeats Lewis-Clark State...
...could earn a bye coupled with a Lee loss. SAU earns a bye, because they are the only team left who hasn't received one, and will play for the title on Friday. If Lee wins against Oklahoma City, SAU and Lee would battle for the Championship on Thursday with the "If Necessary" game on Friday.
If Spring Arbor loses to Lewis-Clark State...
...Spring Arbor ends its season at 40-9.
If Lewis-Clark State defeats Spring Arbor...
...Lewis-Clark State would take on Oklahoma City on Thursday, if the Stars defeat Lee. LCSC will face Lee on Thursday if Oklahoma City loses to Lee and there are only two teams left.
If Lewis-Clark State loses to Spring Arbor...
...Lewis-Clark State ends its season at 55-8.

* information courtesy of Denny Grubb.