LEWISTON, Idaho – So close, yet so far away. For the second time over the past three years the Lee Flames have been denied the NAIA World Series championship banner and forced to settle for the runner-up trophy.
The finale came down to two squads that had traveled over 2,000 miles to take part in the 54th NAIA World Series. Both had claimed earlier games on Thursday. Cumberland University (Lebanon, Tenn.) eliminated Point Loma (Calif.). and Lee defeated Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 11-7 to set up a third meeting of the season, and an all Tennessee meeting between the two powerhouses.
The Bulldogs, who had defeated Lee 11-9 earlier in the Series, were paced by catcher David Fanshawe, who drove in all four runs, including two with a home run,. He backed the solid pitching of Aaron Wilkerson to help No. 2 Cumberland (58-9) and Hall of Fame coach Woody Hunt capture their second-ever national crown. The other came in 2004.
For the Flames (52-14), it was another disappointing finish in its attempt to win the title for the first time. In the last three years, Lee has finished second twice and third once. They came within one out of the title two years ago against Lewis-Clark State.
Lee, however, made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. After being blanked by Aaron Wilkerson and held to just four hits through eight innings, the Flames picked up three hits in the ninth, including a three-run home run from Michael Brown. It was the 11th homer of the year by the surging Brown.
Lee had the game-winning run at the plate when Taylor Comford hit a sharp one-hopper that bounced off the glove of Wilkerson. The ball kicked right up to the Bulldog pitcher. He quickly threw the ball to second and the return throw to first nipped Comford, turning into a tournament-ending double play.
Cumberland entered the game on an offensive team with an average of better than 10 runs and 3.5 home runs per game in its first four Series victories. While a number of players contributed to the power source – the Bulldogs had six position players make the all-tournament team including MVP Kris Miller. However, it was only the junior catcher Fanshawe who went yards Thursday night.
In the sixth, Cumberland loaded the bases with two outs on a hit batter and two walks. Fanshawe followed with a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-0, helping tag Lee senior left-hander Matt Gilson (10-1) with his first loss of the year.
Aaron Everett worked 1 1/3 inning for the Flames and Scott Swinson came on to hurl the final two fames. Swinson and Comford were selected to the all-tournament team.
Wilkerson, who also made the all-tournament team, was a difference maker. He followed up an eight-inning, four-hit performance with 13 strikeouts in a 9-1 win over Embry-Riddle on Saturday with a four-hitter through eight innings against Lee. He threw 142 pitches in the game and struck out seven.
Lee avoided being shutout for the first time this season when Jose Cuevas reached on a fielder's choice in the ninth and Edgar Molina followed with a single. Brown then sent a towering shot to left field for his 11th home run of the season. Seth Walker followed with a single before the double play ended the rally.
Matt Greener, who earlier in the day was named the NAIA's Player of the Year, and Miller joined Fanshawe and Dave Weyer with two hits apiece for Cumberland. Molina and JJ Costantino, the winner of the tournament's Charles Berry Hustle Award, had two hits apiece for Lee. One of Costantino’s hits was a double.
Earlier in the day, Lee's Costantino and Junior Rodriguez were selected as first-team All-Americans. Tanner Moore and Swinson were honorable mention.
In the opening game on Thursday, the Flames scored four first-inning runs and never looked back in eliminating No. 7 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 10-7.
The Flames had scored in the first inning in each of its four World Series games and sprinted out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Lee played "small-ball" knocking around four singles and using their speed.
JJ Costantino led off the game with a single. He moved up on a wild pitch, the first of two by starter Justin Zinkovich in the inning, and was driven in by a single from Moore. Three more singles later, including a two-RBI knock by Edgar Molina, and Lee led 4-0.
Embry-Riddle started to chip away in the first inning, a theme for the Eagles all Series long. In all five games, Embry-Riddle has trailed but has been able to come back. Not in this game.
Coach Mark Brew rolled the dice and went with freshman lefthander David Eskew against the Eagles. It was his first appearance on the mound since April 29, but Eskew was good enough to lift the Flames. He went 6 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked three. He never allowed the lead-off hitter to reach base in his six innings of work
Working from behind 4-0, Embry-Riddle's Roper-Hubbert scored Jeff Lemon on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. Roper-Hubbert recorded his team-high seventh RBI of the Series.
After Lee added a single run in the fourth inning on a Trey Burstrom single, Embry-Riddle cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the frame. Austin Goolsby had the big blow, a two-run homer to right-field. That was the closest that the Eagles would come.
The Lee offense kept up the scoring pace, putting up four more in the fifth. Molina, who had a career-day with three hits and five RBIs, blasted a three-run round tripper. Burstrom followed with his second RBI-single of the game. At that point, Lee led 9-3.
The Eagles followed with two runs in the sixth inning. With two outs, pinch-hitter Matt Tamaszewski ripped a triple down the right-field line and his hit drove in two runs.
An error by the Embry-Riddle defense allowed one run in the seventh inning to give Lee a 10-5 lead. Heading into the ninth inning and down by five runs, Embry-Riddle put a slight scare into the Lee lead. Steve Sabins blasted a homer, his third of the Series.
Eskew improved to 6-1 on the year. He got some help out of the bullpen. Nolan Rudman tossed 2 1/3 innings and was perfect until the ninth inning, when he allowed the blast by Sabins.
Molina went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored for Lee. Four other Flames posted two hits apiece. Jose Cuevas doubled and singled, while Comford and Costantino had two knocks.