NEWS RELEASE


2004 Avista NAIA Baseball World Series
Press release

 Monday, May 31 – Game 9

#2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (52-9) def. #8 Concordia (Ore.) (37-22) 15-5

LEWISTON, Idaho – Kenny Holmberg hit a solo homerun and the Embry-Riddle Eagles (52-9) notched 20 hits as they staved off elimination and defeated the No. 8 seed Concordia (37-22) 15-5 in a loser-out game at the 48th Annual Avista NAIA World Series on Monday morning.

The Eagles scored three in the first and were up 8-2 after three innings.  In the top of the first, Embry-Riddle got on the board when Holmberg hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Cheyne Hurst from third.  The next batter, Ross Clifford, hit an RBI double to the right center gap that scored pinch runner Andrew Huff and Kevin Haney.

The Cavaliers of Concordia answered in the bottom of the first inning when catcher Adam Hackstedt singled to right to drive in Kevin Baird from second base.  Baird led off the inning with a single up the middle for his only hit of the day.  He was replaced by Jake Robertson in the second inning.

In the top of the second, Embry-Riddle added a another run when second baseman Richie Cormier singled through the right side, driving in designated hitter Sean Greear from third.  Greear led off the inning with a double to right center and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.

In the bottom of the second, Concordia answered again with a solo run. Jake Robertson doubled to drive in Jarrett Skreen from first base, but then the inning was ended as Robertson was gunned down trying to advance to third on the play.  Skreen led off the inning with a single to left.

The Eagles pulled away in the top of the third when they erupted for five runs on six hits.  Shortstop Kenny Holmberg led off the inning with a solo homerun over the right field wall.  Then with one out, first baseman Woody Lewis doubled to right and scored when Greear singled in the next at-bat.  The next batter, Mike Liberatore, knocked a double down the right field line that scored Greear from first.  After Cormier grounded out to the pitcher, Chenye Hurst singled up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error by the second baseman.  Hurst then scored when Bart Hunton singled up the middle.

In the top of the sixth, the Eagles added five more runs on four more hits.  The scoring started when Clifford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that brought Huff into score.  The next batter, Lewis, doubled to left to drive in Holmberg and Haney.  The next batter, Greear, hit a two RBI single to center that scored Clifford from third and Lewis from first.

The Eagles’ 20-hit performance was four shy of the NAIA World Series record, which is held by three teams.

Embry Riddle starter, Bryan Banks, went 7 2/3 innings and struck out three to earn the win and improve to 7-0 on the season.   

Concordia starter, Charlie Moore, went only 1 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs to get the loss and finish 6-2 on the season.

Embry-Riddle now moves on to face the loser of the Oklahoma City/Cumberland game on Tuesday at noon.