LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 2 Cumberland (Tenn.) (54-9) starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson recorded 13 strikeouts in 8.0 innings, helping the Bulldogs master No. 7 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 9-1 in Game 7 of the 54th annual Avista-NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field on Saturday afternoon. The junior right-hander was nearly unhittable tossing a perfect game through three innings, including seven strikeouts during that span.

The Bulldogs move on to face No. 6 Oklahoma City on Monday at 3 p.m. PDT. Embry-Riddle falls into the double-elimination losers’ bracket and plays No. 8 Belhaven (Miss.) at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Belhaven eliminated defending national champion Lubbock Christian (Texas) earlier today by a score of 3-2.

The storyline was Wilkerson, as he improved to 13-1 on the season and tied the school record for wins in a campaign. The outing against Embry-Riddle was his second this year versus the Eagles and the results were nearly the same. Back on March 16 in the 7-1 win against the Eagles, Wilkerson went 7.0 innings, when he allowed one run on three hits and he struck out nine. Today he was just as sparkling.

In six of his eight innings today, Wilkerson sent the batters down in order. Other than a solo home run by Steve Sabins in the top of the fifth, Wilkerson did not allow an Eagle base runner past second. The home run he allowed broke up a string of 27 2/3 straight scoreless innings dating back four games to April 30 against Lyon (Ark.). He has now recorded three straight double-digit strikeout efforts. Overall, he allowed four hits and did not give up a walk in his 104-pitch effort.

Cumberland took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning after Dave Weyer hit a sacrifice fly. His play scored Jason Frost, a pinchrunner for David Fanshawe. Two innings later, the Bulldogs cashed in on two unearned runs. Weyer rolled a grounder to the second baseman, which was mishandled and resulted in one run. Greg Appleton followed with an RBI-single to left and the lead increased to 3-0.

Sabins cut the deficit to 3-1 with his home run in the fifth inning for Embry-Riddle. That was all the noise the Eagles were able to muster. Cumberland tacked on two more in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-1.

Matt Greener, who went 2-for-4 for Cumberland, pounded his national-tying 26th home run in the eighth inning. His three-run blast tied Richard Bohlken of Lubbock Christian for the top spot on the NAIA list. Sam Kikla added an RBI-single to cap the scoring in the same inning.

Reliever Daniel Kern came on in the top of the ninth in relief of Wilkerson and allowed one hit.

Justin Zinkovich was on the losing end for Embry-Riddle. He went 7.0 innings as he allowed six runs, four earned, on nine hits. He whiffed three and walked three.

Lead-off hitter Tyler Robbins was the top Eagle offensively, going 2-for-4.

In addition to Greener, two more Cumberland batters rapped two hits each – Fanshawe and Max Kautz.

GAME NOTES: The 13 strikeouts for Aaron Wilkerson is the highest amount thus far in the 2010 World Series (through seven games)… Cumberland improves to 21-18 overall in the World Series including 8-3 in First Round games… Embry-Riddle drops to 14-17 in World Series action… Both teams are very familiar with each other in the World Series – Cumberland has now won all four meetings at this event and out-scored the Eagles 42-17 overall… Matt Greener’s three RBIs tonight pushed his season total to 91, which set a school record – he is ranked second in the NAIA this season, three behind leader Cody Gaskill of Tennessee Wesleyan… The nine runs allowed by Embry-Riddle is the most this season since losing 9-8 against Edward Waters (Fla.) on April 2 -- a span of 27 games… The next opponent for Cumberland is Oklahoma City, a team that the Bulldogs have won three-of-four against this season – in the World Series, Cumberland is 2-3 against the Stars with the last meeting in 2005 (L, 6-2).