By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
LEWISTON, Idaho – Tuesday night, sixth-seeded Southeastern (Fla.) scored a couple of fifth-inning unearned runs but managed only three hits, and still surprised No. 2 Georgia Gwinnett 2-1 in the NAIA World Series.
Tonight at 8:30 CDT, the Fire (46-13) gets its chance to extinguish the No. 1 LSUS Pilots’ perfect record. They are the only two teams undefeated in the 10-team, double-elimination bracket.
Three more are still alive and trying to rally through the loser’s bracket: Georgia Gwinnett, No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (they meet in the afternoon game today, with one heading home), and No. 4 Hope International, which awaits the LSUS-Southeastern winner Thursday night. Tonight’s loser plays Thursday afternoon against the Georgia Gwinnett-Tennessee Wesleyan survivor.
LSUS (56-0) owns a pair of 6-3 victories in the Series, opening against 10th-seeded Grand View (Iowa) last Friday and outlasting fourth-seeded and defending national champion Hope International Monday night.
Southeastern’s first win in Lewiston was a 15-2 romp over fellow Florida team Webber International on Saturday. Tuesday night, Aaron Robertson carried a shutout into the ninth as he scattered seven hits while the Fire threw out two Georgia Gwinnett runners at the plate.
The Pilots are hitting a robust .362 as a team while the pitching staff has a 2.33 ERA and is holding opponents to a .190 batting average.
Three regulars are batting over .400: Josh Gibson (.437, 8 HR, 68 RBI, 52 stolen bases), Ryan Davenport (.418, 2 HR, 45 RBI, 26 steals) and Anthony Swenda (.400, 7 HR, 40 RBI).
The Fire carries a .339 team batting average led by their only .400 hitter, Jon Paul Pennella (.417 50 RBI, 24 steals).
LSUS can reach another milestone with a triumph tonight. The Pilots already have the longest winning streak by any college team (NCAA or NAIA) from a four-year institution. The only string longer is 57 by Howard (Texas) Community College.
All World Series games can be watched at NAIA.org/watch.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com