May 23, 2009

Story courtesy of Bert Sahlberg, Media Coordinator

LEWISTON, Idaho – Tanner Rindels and Armando Dominguez each homered twice to back the solid pitching of Rene Garcia to help top seed and top ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas) open the 53^rd annual Avista-NAIA World Series with an impressive 11-0 win over ninth-seeded Lee University (Tenn.) at Harris Field on Saturday (May 23).

Showing no side effects of receiving a first-round bye, the Chaparrals pounded five home runs and used four pitchers to limit Lee to just four hits, two of which came in the bottom of the ninth.

Rindels slugged a solo home run in the top of the first and also hit a three-run shot in the second inning, both to center field. The senior outfielder finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored and now has 17 home runs on the season.

Dominguez hit home runs in back-to-back innings as well, as he hit solo blasts to left-center in the sixth and to left in the seventh. The senior shortstop finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. He has 13 home runs on the season.

Not to be outdone, Tyler Johnson smacked a two-run home run in the third inning, which put the Chaps ahead 7-0.

That was more than enough for Garcia, who didn’t allow a hit until a single in the fifth inning. He pitched six innings of one-hit ball. The junior right-hander struck out seven and walked three.

Three LCU pitchers then each pitched an inning and gave up a total of three hits with two strikeouts.

Elvis Sosa led Lee (51-13) with two hits, but the Flames’ pitching staff gave up 12 hits and three walks, and also hit two batters as Lubbock Christian (48-7) only went down twice in order.

Bo Merrell added two hits and scored three times for the Chaps, while Ross Blondin added two hits.

Both teams are in action on Monday. Lubbock Christian will square off against No. 4 seed Berry (46-14) at 3 p.m.; while Lee will face Fresno Pacific in loser-out play at 8:30 a.m.

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