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LEWISTON, Idaho - (Box
Score)
No. 9 Rogers State center fielder Eric
Baker finished with three hits,
including a pair of RBI doubles, to
propel the Hillcats to a 7-5 come from
behind victory against No. 2 Lee (Tenn.)
in Avista-NAIA World Series action on
Wednesday night at Harris Field in
Lewiston, Idaho.
With the win, Rogers State (49-15), who
is making its first appearance in the
World Series, advances to the
championship final. The Hillcats
opponent will be determined by the
winner of No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan and
No. 1 LSU Shreveport (La.). If Tennessee
Wesleyan wins, Rogers State will face
off against the Bulldogs at 6:35 p.m.
PDT on Thursday. If LSU Shreveport wins,
Rogers State will receive a bye on
Thursday and play the winner between
Tennessee Wesleyan and the Pilots at
6:35 p.m. on Friday. Lee concludes its
season with a 56-11-1 overall record and
2-2 mark in the World Series.
Casey Cassity (4-1) earned the victory
for the Hillcats. He held the Flames
scoreless over six innings in relief of
starter Brandon Bargas. Bargas, who
posted a series-high 18 strikeouts in
his first appearance in Lewiston, tossed
only three innings, allowing five runs
on eight hits.
Rogers State wasted little time in
jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first
inning on an RBI single by Colton
Campbell that scored Baker, who led off
the inning with a triple.
However, the Flames answered in the
ensuing inning by scoring five runs on
five hits, sparked by a solo home run by
Corey Davis and a two-run blast by
Trevor Burgess. The outburst made it a
5-1 advantage for Lee.
Rogers State, however, rallied back with
two runs in the bottom of the fifth to
cut the deficit to 5-3. Cade McKewon
opened the inning with a single and
Keith Poverud walked before Baker drove
both runners home with a two-RBI double
to deep left-center field.
The Hillcats completed the rally with
four additional runs in the bottom of
the seventh to take a 7-5 lead with two
innings left. Back-to-back singles set
the table to Baker, who launched his
second two-RBI double of the contest.
Two batters later, Campbell drove in
Baker for a second time and was then
brought home on a single by Lance Rymel.
Cassity retired the Flames in order in
the top of the eighth and closed the
door on Lee's season in the ninth,
inducing three-straight fly outs
following a leadoff walk.
In addition to Baker, Campbell finished
2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run
scored, while Poverud was 1-for-2 with a
pair of RBIs.
Matt Passauer (2-1) took the loss for
Lee (Tenn.). Passauer allowed two runs
on two hits in relief of starter Jose
Samayoa. Samayoa surrendered five runs
on seven hits in the loss.
Davis paced the Flame offense, ending
the contest 3-for-4 with one RBI and one
run scored.
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