KINGSPORT, Tenn. – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist's hopes for a second consecutive trip to the Avista-NAIA World Series were dashed on Thursday by an outstanding Cumberland University Bulldogs team. Missouri Baptist fell behind by four runs twice and never recovered in a 6-3 loss in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Championship Game.
Missouri Baptist (47-14) never led against Cumberland on Thursday and were held in check by a great start by Kevin T. Greene. The southpaw held the Spartans to just two runs in his seven innings of work.
Curtis Sawchuk got the start for MBU and was one of four pitchers to get work in the game. Sawchuk was great in his outing and allowed just one run and two hits in four innings of work. Chris Cordova came on in relief in the fifth and looked very sharp early, but with two outs, the wheels began to come off.
Cordova walked two batters, struck-out one and gave-up what ended-up as the game winning hit. Bulldog first baseman Brady North crushed a pitch over the wall in right center field and made it a 4-0 game after five innings.
The Spartans tried to come back as the light slipped away from Hunter Wright Stadium. Orlando Olivera and Brent Zimmerman each posted RBI in the sixth and seventh innings to make it a 4-2 game.
The Bulldogs, however, were not done. Richie Seaton knocked a two-RBI double into the gap in left center to make it a 6-2 lead. With just three outs remaining in the game, the Spartans made it interesting.
In the bottom of the ninth, Orlando Olivera led things off with double. Joe Stropp followed with a strikeout on a wild pitch, but made it down to first without a throw. With first and second occupied, Eli Roundtree hit an RBI single to make it a 6-3 game.
Dan Harper came to the plate with one out and singled as well, and just like that, the bases were loaded with Jeff Smith headed to the plate representing the winning run.
The Spartans, however, were unable to cash-in as both Smith and Erik Garcia were unable to reach and just as quickly as the excitement built in the ninth, it was gone.
Missouri Baptist ended the season again just a win shy of qualifying for the World Series, but it was an outstanding year for Coaches Eddie Uschold and Kenny Graser.
