Eagles Fly Away With Title

LEWISTON, Idaho (June 3, 2011) – Blake Harrison pitched a complete game and held Lubbock Christian University to six hits, as he led Concordia University (Calif.) to their first NAIA national title with a 9-3 win over the Chaparrals Friday night in the championship game of the 2011 Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field.

Harrison was the only pitcher the Eagles needed, while LCU went through six pitchers on their depleted staff.  Once the Eagles took a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning after a two-out bases loaded triple by Robbie Knowles, Harrison shut down LCU’s offense.  Harrison held the final 22 batters faced to just two hits.  LCU’s Austin Stewart hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut LCU’s deficit to 4-3 and Harrison would retire the next 15 batters faced before allowing a hit in the ninth inning to Brett Morte.  Harrison improved to 8-1 and allowed two earned runs off six hits.

Matt Ivanoff gave Concordia the opening lead of the game with a two-out single to score Danny Casey in the third inning. LCU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning after Richard Bohlken reached on an error, which scored Ryan Burnaman from third base.  Karl Seiter followed with a ground out to score Morte for a 2-1 LCU lead.  LCU’s lead would not last long, as Concordia received the big hit by Knowles.

LCU was forced to staff their pitching.  Cameron Ray started the game and made his first pitching appearance since April 29^th and first start since April 5^th.  Ray went 2.2 innings and allowed a run on two hits.  Shane Ingram pitched three innings and the three runs he allowed off Knowles’ triple were all unearned.  Lucas Whitmore, who made two starts in the series, went 2.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits.  Whitmore was one of four pitchers the Chaps used in the ninth inning, as Concordia exploded for five insurance runs.  Ivanoff and Kyle Konicek hit back-to-back triples to spark a six-hit inning for the Eagles.  Tyler Curtis and Burnaman each took the mound trying to close the top of the ninth inning, but were unsuccessful.  Paul Gonzalez was the fourth pitcher for the Chaps in the inning and was able to force a fly-out on the only pitch he threw.  The loss was credited to Ingram (3-4).

The second place finish for LCU marked their first loss in a championship game and it was their third best finish in program history.  LCU closes the season with a 50-14 record.  The Chaps were honored with five players receiving NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team accolades.  David Cruz, Peterson, Stewart, Whitmore and Curtis each claimed the honor.  Stewart co-led the Chaps with a .400 batting average.  He led the team with 15 total bases with three doubles, two home runs and six runs-batted-in.  Peterson led the team with ten hits in Lewiston.  On the mound, Whitmore pitched 19 innings and had a 1.89 ERA with four earned runs off 14 hits and a 1-1 record with 19 strikeouts.  Curtis went 2-0 with two runs allowed off seven hits in nine innings pitched for a 2.00 ERA.