NEWS RELEASE


 

2004 Avista NAIA Baseball World Series
Press Release

Tuesday, June 1 – Game 15

#5 Cumberland (Tenn.) (57-21) def. #7 Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) (44-14) 13-2

LEWISTON, Idaho – Cumberland University cleanup hitter Donnie Burkhalter failed to add to his home run total, but he did practically everything else in helping the Bulldogs move closer to their first national baseball championship.

Burkhalter hit a two-run double in the first, a two-run triple in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the seventh for five RBI to help No. 5 seed Cumberland of Lebanon, Tenn., bury No. 7 seed Point Loma Nazarene of San Diego 13-2 in the 48th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field on Tuesday night.

Cumberland (57-21) is the only undefeated team left from the original 10-team double-elimination tournament. Cumberland needs just two more wins to claim the title in its sixth Series appearance. The Bulldogs finished second in 1995 and third in ’93.

The Bulldogs had a relatively easy time against Point Loma, scoring three runs in the first and taking a commanding 6-0 lead after three innings. The lead reached 10-0 in the sixth before Point Loma Nazarene scored.

Burkhalter, who has driven in eight runs in three games despite being intentionally walked four times, finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and five RBI. He just barely missed hitting his team-leading 25th home run of the season.

Cumberland continued to put on an offensive show in this game by pounding out 18 hits. Mike Minkel, Phillip Cuadrado, Craig Moreland, Caleb Barrett and Victor Alvarez added two hits apiece. Minkel also scored three runs and drove in a run. Despite the 13 runs, Burkhalter was the only Bulldog with more than one RBI.

Point Loma collected nine hits, but had a hard time getting anything across the plate against Bulldog starter Nick Thompson, who went seven innings, allowed six hits and one run. He walked three and struck out six to improve to 7-2 on the season.

Craig Will had two hits and both RBI for Point Loma Nazarene. He had an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth. Mike Acuna and David Parker also had two hits apiece for Point Loma Nazarene (44-14).  The Sea Lions, however, left 10 runners stranded on base.

The Bulldogs now take on No. 2 seed Embry Riddle (53-9) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The other contest is at 3 p.m. Wednesday between top seed Oklahoma City (72-6) and Point Loma Nazarene. When only four teams are left in the tournament, the pairings are determined on who hasn’t played who. Cumberland has already played Oklahoma City and Point Loma Nazarene in the tournament.

Depending on who is left in the tournament after Wednesday’s play will determine the pairings for Thursday and possibly Friday. Point Loma Nazarene is the only team remaining that hasn’t had a bye in the Series.