May 27, 2011

Contact: Amanda Dahl, NAIA Manager of Sports Information & Media Services, adahl@naia.org

LEWISTON, Idaho - Sixth-seeded Lubbock Christian pounded out 14 hits en route to a 7-2 win over Oklahoma Baptist in the Avista-NAIA World Series at Harris Field Friday. The Chaps (47-12) must wait for two games to be played out before their opponent is determined. They will next take to the field on May 30 at 7 p.m. PDT. With the loss, the Bison (45-13) slip into the losers bracket and will meet the loser of the Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and Tennessee Wesleyan game Saturday at 12 p.m.

LCU's Lucas Whitmore (10-2) earned his 10th win of the season, throwing 8 1/3 innings. The junior registered nine strike outs, scattered three hits and gave up a pair of earned runs. Senior Richie Mirowski (11-2) suffered just his second loss on the hill, allowing 11 hits and six runs, four of which were earned. He fanned four and walked two.

The Chaps offense produced runs in the first, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth innings, with six batters driving in runs. Austin Stewart provided a pair of doubles, going 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI. Stewart was one of six Lubbock Christian players that had multiple hits in the game.

It wasn't until the fourth inning that Oklahoma Baptist was able to touch Whitmore. Bison cleanup hitter Michael Sliger took a 1-2 offering to right-center field for the first hit of the game. Sliger wouldn't move beyond first base as Whitmore stuck out Bam Davis to retire the side.

Whitmore went untouched until the bottom of the eighth inning as Jonathan Gelpi hit a single up the middle, but moved no further as Chris Lemus ended the frame with a popup in foul territory. In their last at bat, the Bison's Sliger got a hold of a 2-1 Whitmore pitch and sent it over the left-field fence for a two-run shot. Sliger's roundtripper scored Anthony Lopez, who reached on a fielder's choice.