NEWS RELEASE


 

2004 Avista NAIA Baseball World Series
Press release

Wednesday, June 2 – Game 16

# 1 Okalahoma City (73-6) def. Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) (47-16) 12-2

LEWISTON, Idaho – Center fielder Scott Balster hit a pair of home runs and drove in four as the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City (73-6) def. Point Loma Nazarene University (47-16) 12-2 in a loser-out game at the 48th annual Avista NAIA World Series on Wednesday at Harris Field.

Balster, who went 5-for-6 on the day, scored the Stars first run of the game when he smacked a 1-0 offering over the center field wall to tie the game at 1-1.  Balster also ended the game’s scoring with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to put the Stars up 12-2.

Point Loma scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff hitter Mike Acuna scored from second on an RBI single to center by Mike Eshragh.  Acuna led off the game with a walk and then advanced to second on a stolen base.

The Sea Lions took a 2-1 lead when third baseman Ralphie Marin lifted a RBI single to center field to score Eshragh from third.

In the bottom of the sixth, Oklahoma City jumped ahead for good with three runs in the inning.  Right fielder Ted Ledbetter led off the inning with a first-pitch single to center.  After catcher Tony Sanguinetti reached first on a throwing error, Ledbetter scored from second when Arnie Gomez singled up the middle.  The Stars’ next batter, Cameron Clarke, singled to center to score Sanguinetti from second.  Oklahoma City received their third straight hit when Aaron Williams singled to left center to score Gomez.

In the top of the eighth, the Stars’ offense exploded for six runs.  With the bases loaded and no outs, Balster singled down the left field line to score Matt Sharp from third.  Denver Kitch singled left to score Dave Marlett.  Then with two outs, Gomez hit a two-RBI single to right, scoring Balster and Erik Turberville.  Then after Clarke walked, Williams singled through the right side to score two more runs.

The Stars added the final two runs of the game on Balster’s two run shot in the top of the ninth.

Oklahoma City starter Joe Bisenius threw a 124-pitch complete game to earn the win and improve to 13-0 on the season.  Bisenius struck out six and only allowed two earned runs on five hits.

Oklahoma City now advances to play on Thursday night at 7 p.m.  Their opponent for that game depends largely on what happens in Wednesday night’s contest between Cumberland and Embry-Riddle.