05-28-09 (box score)

Garcia tosses gem to help Lubbock Christian force if necessary game

Chaps also use three home runs in 5-1 win over Point Loma Nazarene

LEWISTON, Idaho – Rene Garcia tossed a seven-hitter and was backed up by three home runs to help Lubbock Christian University (Texas) defeat Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 5-1 on Thursday to force the if-necessary game for the championship of the 53^rd annual Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field. 

The championship game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday and it will be the third meeting of the Series between the two teams. Point Loma won the first meeting 2-1 on Tuesday. 

Point Loma (45-12) could have ended the Series with a win Thursday in the 10-team double-elimination tournament, but instead Garcia and the LCU bats stole the show in front of 3,815 fans. 

Garcia, a junior right-hander, went the distance for the Chaps (51-8) and struck out five with one walk. The only run Garcia (11-1) allowed came in the bottom of the ninth inning and it was unearned. 

The Chaps again used the long ball to account for all but one run in the game. Two came in the third inning when LCU jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Armando Dominguez hit a solo home run to start the third, which was his fourth home run of the tournament and 15^th of the season. After a two-out single by Tanner Rindels, Will Stramp went deep to left-center field to make it 3-0. It was Stramp’s 26^th home run of the season and second of the tournament. 

LCU added a run in the fourth when Tyler Johnson drew a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Brett Kazmierski. After a strikeout, Rob Learned doubled to deep right-center field, which scored Kazmierski from first for a 4-0 lead. 

The Chaps added their final run in the eighth when Ross Blondin led off the inning with a solo home run. It was his25th home run of the season and second of the tournament. 

Garcia lost his shutout bid in the ninth. After getting the first two batters out, he gave up a single to Wes Kartch, who moved to second on a passed ball. Tyler Kuehl followed with a single to center to score Kartch, but Alex Cameron lined out to second to end the game. 

Jaime Armendariz and Learned had two hits apiece for Lubbock Christian, which collected nine hits in the game. Kartch and Kuehl had two hits apiece for Point Loma, which was held to just one run in a game for the fifth time this season. 

Point Loma started Andrew Bovich (13-1) gave up seven hits in seven innings and struck out nine. Kenny Houser pitched the final two innings and allowed two hits with two strikeouts. 

Lubbock Christian is seeking the program’s second title after winning the championship in 1983. Entering the Series, Point Loma had never finished higher than third and the school’s entire athletic program has never won an NAIA national championship in any sport.