May 29, 2008

(Box Score)

LEWISTON, Idaho - Josh Guy smacked a decisive two-run home run in the eighth and lifted No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) University (63-8) to a 6-5 triumph over No. 2 Oklahoma City University (57-12) at the 2008 AVISTA-NAIA World Series tonight from Harris Field. The victory sends Lee to the Championship contest against No. 3 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) College tomorrow (Thursday) at 7:05 p.m. PST.

Lee, who is looking to become the first No. 1 seed (since the seeding format began in 2003) to win the World Series Championship, faces a Lewis-Clark State team who needs to win twice to secure its 16^th Championship. Standing as the only undefeated team and having beaten Lewis-Clark last night (Tuesday), Lee needs one win to earn its first ever Championship in any team sport.

Guy, who broke a 12-game homerless drought, delivered a 1-0 pitch from Brad Riddle into the night sky over the fence in left. His blast was the difference after Oklahoma City snatched a 5-4 lead one-half inning earlier.

Lee scored the game's first run off a Chris Warters RBI-single to right in the bottom of the first. The Stars of Oklahoma City struck back with three in the visitor-half of the third. With the bases loaded, David Dennis rapped a soft single to score two runners. A run followed on a wild pitch to hand the Stars a 3-1 lead.

That score stood until a Clint Harrelson sacrifice fly brought Lee to within a run at 3-2 in the fifth. Then, Brian Bistagne hit a decisive two-run double lacing the 2-2 pitch down the left-field line. That liner scored Jeremy Hutslar and Clint Harrelson and gave Lee a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth.

Landon Camp hit his 23^rd homer, second of the World Series, with a drive over the left field fence in the top of the eighth. His hit scored David Mann, who reached on a single. At that point Oklahoma City led 5-4. But Riddle could not hold down the Flames bats.

Lee starting pitcher Joel Matthews went 8.0 innings earning the win and upping his record to 10-2. He allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He fanned seven batters and walked four.

Guy and Harrelson each finished with two hits as Guy scored two runs and drove in two. Oklahoma City's Camp went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Dennis was 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The loss ends the year for Oklahoma City at 57-12 and an NAIA-record for home runs in a season with 147.