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NAIA 2001 BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
 Game 19: Birmingham-Southern, Ala. 8, Lewis-Clark State 3

June 1, 2001 at Harris Field

LEWISTON, Idaho – A two-run double by Adam Pease snapped a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning and Birmingham-Southern, Ala., went on to stun host Lewis-Clark State 8-3 Friday at Harris Field to win its first-ever NAIA Avista National Baseball title.

The Panthers battled back through the loser’s bracket, winning their final four tournament games after losing to Western Oregon 16-8 Monday. Birmingham-Southern handed LCSC both of its losses, defeating the Warriors 10-3 on Wednesday before reaching the title game with a 17-11 win over Bellevue, Neb., Thursday.

LCSCdropped back-to-back home games to the same team for the first time since 1993 when it lost consecutive games to Washington State of the Pac10 Conference.

Ricky Gomez and Cory Hamrick also had RBI singles in Birmingham-Southern’s four-run fifth inning. Birmingham then added a single run in the seventh on a RBI single by designated Matt Lambert. Lambert then added a clinching three-run home run in the eighth inning.

Meanwhile, BSC pitchers Mike Nickoli and Seth Bobbitt limited LCSC to just three runs. Mike Madrid gave the Warriors a short-lived lead with a solo home run in the fourth. Matt Hellman had RBI singles in the fifth and seventh.

Nickoli, who improved to 9-2, pitched the first six innings and scattered seven hits. Nickoli, who surrendered two runs, walked one and struck out four. Seth Bobbitt, who pitched a four-hitter in Wednesday’s win over LCSC, pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits and one run. He walked one and struck out three to record his first save of the season.

Bobbitt finished the tournament with two victories and a save. Wes Hutchison, who surrendered four runs in five innings, was the losing pitcher.

Birmingham-Southern completed its season with a record of 55-11. Lewis-Clark State, which has won 11 national titles, lost in the title game for the fifth time and finished at 54-14.

 
Birmingham-Southern (Ala.) 000 040 130 -- 8 10 1
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)  000 110 100 -- 3  9 1

Mike Nickoli, Seth Bobbitt (7) and Graham Burgess; Wes Hutchison, Nick Gravelle (6), Collin Perschon (7) and Gabe Stajduhar. W – Nickoli (9-2). L – Hutchison (3-4). HR – BSC, Matt Lambert (10); LCSC, Mike Madrid (13). Time: 2:53. Attendance: 4,340.

All-Tournament Team:
Most Valuable Player – Connor Robertson, Birmingham-Southern (Robertson, who was 1 for 4 in the title game, finished tournament with 14 hits in 28 at bats. He also had four doubles, one triple, three home runs and eight RBI).
Golden Glove – John Driskill, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.).
Charles Berry Hustle Award – Matt Hellman, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).

1B – Zack Hinckley, Bellevue (Neb.).
2B – John Driskill, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.).
SS – Bobby Koba, Bellevue (Neb.).
3B – Conner Robertson, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.).
IF – Brian Karshner, Ohio Dominican.
OF – Cody Sadler, Dallas Baptist (Tex.)
OF – Kurt Koshelnik, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
OF – Kam Ochsner, Bellevue (Neb.)
OF – Adam Pease, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.).
C – Graham Burgess, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.)
C – Dan Barnett, Warner Southern (Fla.).
P – David McWatters, Bellevue (Neb.)
P – J.R. Crider, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
P – Collin Perschon, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
P – Seth Bobbitt, Birmingham-Southern (Ala.).
DH – Josh Nelson, Western Oregon.