LEWISTON, Idaho – (Box Score) A double-play with runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth was the different, as No. 2 Faulkner (Ala.) escaped with a 7-6 win against No. 6 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Monday evening at the 2015 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series. The 59th annual event is being played out for the 16th-consecutive year at Harris Field on the campus of Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).

With the win, Faulkner improves to 50-13 on the year and advances to play the winner of No. 8 Concordia (Calif.) and No. 4 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. PDT. The Eagles are now 7-4 all-time at the World Series and 2-0 against Embry-Riddle.

Faulkner starter Christian Torres (7-1) scattered five hits and three runs (all earned) en route to his seventh win of the year. The senior right-hander, who had only allowed one run in his last 16.2 innings of work prior to the start, struck out seven – his sixth seven-plus strike outs.

Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year Chris Madera paced an offense for a Faulkner team that recorded 10 hits. The senior outfielder was 2-for-4 at the dish with a home run and two RBI. Third baseman Dennis Morton also had a multi-hit game for Faulkner.

After 5 innings of scoreless baseball, Faulkner’s offense showed signs of life in the top of the sixth, as Dario Polanco flipped a single into shallow right field to open the frame. He then stole second and advanced to third on wild pitch to put himself in scoring position with one out.

Randy Joung drilled the next pitch down the first baseline, however Embry-Riddle first baseman Hunter Bruehl snagged it on a dive to get the out at first. Despite the tremendous defensive play, Polanco scored from third to make it a 1-0 ballgame.

Back-to-back errors by the Embry-Riddle infield kept the Faulkner rally alive, placing runners on first and third for Nick Cain. The Eagles were able to get out of the jam, as Cain grounded out to second base.

Faulkner added two runs in the seventh. An errant throw and bunt for a base hit put Cody Sos and Junior Santos on first and second with no outs. The two advanced one base a piece on a passed ball by the Embry-Riddle catcher. Madera plated the first score of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. Two hitters later, Robert Llera shot an RBI single to left field to make it a 3-0 Faulkner lead. Faulkner had an opportunity to continue to pad its lead with runners on second and third, however proved unable to do so.

A walk and back-to-back bunts loaded the bases for Faulkner in the eighth. Santos took advantage of the situation with a single to center to push the Eagles lead out to 4-0. Sos was thrown out at second on the play. Cain scored moments later when Santos found himself picked off, but stayed in the rundown long enough to score the junior outfielder.

Madera finished the rally with a home run over the left-center field fence to make it 6-0 Faulkner. The blast is his ninth of the season and first at the World Series.

Embry-Riddle made noise in the bottom of the eighth, as a single by Tobias Moreno put runners on first and third with one out. One pitch later, the Eagles scored their first run of the ballgame when Jake Cavender hit a hot-shot up the middle that bounced off Torres and through the hole at second base. Malphurs, who was pinch running for Cody Bogart, scored on the play, while Moreno moved to third base.

Following a Faulkner pitching change, Liam Goodall walked to load the bases followed an Ender Velasquez single through the hole to make it a 6-2 game and keep the bases full. Joshua Garcia seized the opportunity with another single, plating two to pull Embry-Riddle within two, 6-4.

Faulkner added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it 7-4, however the comfort was short lived as Embry-Riddle loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half. Liam Goodall hit a high chopper to third base and a wild throw to the plate by the Faulkner third baseman allowed two runs to score and pull Embry-Riddle within one, 7-6.

However, the rally was cut short via the previously mentioned double play to end the game.

Embry-Riddle, which recorded only one hit through the first five innings, ended the contest with nine hits, including three from Cavender. The senior also scored a run and had an RBI.

Zac Grotz (8-2) took the loss for Embry-Riddle. He pitched seven innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) and striking out eight.

Embry-Riddle is now 40-18 on the season. The Eagles next opponent will be determined by the result of the Lewis-Clark State and Concordia game.

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of 17 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting the first 15 games of the 2015 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $20. Visit www.NAIANetwork.com for more information.

The Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination event hosted by Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). For more information on the 59th annual event, click HERE.