NEWS RELEASE


 

2004 Avista NAIA Baseball World Series
Press Release

Saturday, May 29 - Game 8
#1 Oklahoma City (71-5) def. # No. 8 William Penn (Iowa) (48-14), 9-4

LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 1 seed Oklahoma City scored five runs in the first and quelled a late inning surge to defeat the No. 8 seed William Penn 9-4 in game eight of the 48th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field Saturday night.

The Stars of Oklahoma City University struck early and often, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning.  After shortstop Denver Kitch was hit by a pitch and stole second, right fielder Ted Ledbetter continued his stellar play at the plate as he knocked an RBI double down the right field line to score Kitch.  After advancing to third, Ledbetter scored when second baseman Cameron Clarke hit a single through the right side.  Three batters later, third baseman Dave Marlett hit a three-run triple to right center that made the score 5-0.

Oklahoma City starter E.J. Shanks went 6.0 innings and struck out seven to earn the victory and improve to 16-0 on the season. 

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth when catcher Tony Sanguinetti hit a RBI single to right that scored Kitch from third.

In the top of the eighth the William Penn bats began to wake up and the Statesmen cut the lead to 6-4.  With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Chris Nickeson hit a three-RBI double to left center.  William Penn’s first run came when Dan Mell hit a pinch hit single to first base, which scored Jesus Cortez from third.

Statesmen starter Edgar Galindo (12-2) went only 1.0 inning and gave up five earned runs to earn the loss.

The Stars answered the Statesmen rally in the bottom of the eighth with three runs of their own to make the score 9-4.  With one out in the inning, leadoff hitter Scott Balster hit a solo homerun to right center.  Then with two outs and one on, Sanguinetti hit a two-run homerun to left center.

Okalahoma City next faces the No. 5 seed Cumberland on Monday at 3 p.m.  William Penn will try to rebound on Monday at noon vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene.