Oklahoma City holds off Lewis-Clark State 10-8
May 24, 2009
Story courtesy of Bert Sahlberg, Media Coordinator
LEWISTON, Idaho – Jason Machado’s two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning capped a four-run rally after a costly passed ball to help second seed Oklahoma City University defeat three-time defending champion and seventh seed Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) 10-8 in a wild contest to complete the second day of play at the 53rd annual Avista-NAIA World Series on Saturday (May 23).
The Warriors scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take an 8-6 lead on Sean Halton’s three-run home run. LCSC appeared to be headed to the ninth with the lead when Brent Weaver struck out for the apparent third out of the OCU eighth with runners on second and third. But the pitch got past LCSC catcher Travis Georgius, which allowed Weaver to reach first and a run to score to cut the lead to 8-7. B.J. Wheeler then lined a shot that hit the second base umpire on the fly. The play was called a single and the ball was declared dead, which meant the bases were loaded.
A wild pitch allowed the tying run to score and Machado followed with a two-run single to left-center field to put the Stars back in front.
The Warriors threatened in the top of the ninth when a hit batter and two walks loaded the bases with no outs. But OCU closer Brad Riddle got out of the jam by getting Kyle Melton to pop up for the first out and then Todd Muecklish to ground into a double play to end the game.
The contest between the two clubs that have won the last four Series’ titles featured 24 hits, including seven for extra bases. The two also combined to leave 19 on base.
The game got off to a strange start when LCSC coach Ed Cheff turned in a makeshift lineup prior to the game after Paul Martin, the scheduled starting center fielder, became ill. Cheff moved some players around but didn’t list a pitcher on the lineup he gave the umpire, which meant the pitcher was moved into the designated hitter position and the designated hitter on the card, Trent Bridges, then became ineligible to play.
The Warriors (40-14) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI triple by Melton, who scored on a single by Muecklish.
OCU (52-7) tied the game in the bottom of the second when David Mann slugged his 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot over the fence in right-center field.
The Warriors answered with three in the top of the third for a 5-2 advantage. Kawika Emsley-Pai had an RBI single while two runs scored on an error.
OCU added another two-run home run in the bottom of the third, this time from B.J. Wheeler. The blast was the 17th of the season for Wheeler and cut LCSC’s lead to 5-4.
Steve Vitale’s RBI double tied the game in the fourth and then put OCU ahead 6-5 with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning.
Halton then brought the crowd of 4,980 to its feet with his 16th home run of the season in the eighth.
Vitale, Wheeler, Machado, and Mann all had two RBI apiece for OCU, while Machado had three hits. Halton went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Emsley-Pai was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for LCSC.
LCSC had a couple dubious marks on the evening. They set a season-high for most strikeouts as they fanned 15 times against OCU pitching. Junior Kris Miller set the Series record for most strikeouts in a game when he fanned in each of his five at-bats.
OCU starter Ashur Tolliver went 5.1 innings and allowed 11 hits and three earned runs, but he also struck out 10. Dustin Williams (4-1) picked up the win and allowed one hit with five strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
Nick Masters, the final of four LCSC pitchers, took the loss although he didn’t give up an earned run.
Both teams resume play on Monday. OCU will play No. 3 seed Point Loma Nazarene (42-11) at 7 p.m., while LCSC faces No. 5 Southern Poly State (52-9) at noon in a loser-out contest.
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