From OBU Sports Info.
Casady Fletcher, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
LEWISTON, Idaho – Top-seeded Oklahoma Baptist fell to No. 10 Cumberland (Tenn.) 13-5 early Wednesdaymorning after multiple lightning delays in the 2014 Avista-NAIA World Series at Harris Field.
After two separate lightning delays that stopped play for a total of 2 hours and 17 minutes, the game that started late Tuesday evening finally ended after 1 a.m. PDT Wednesday morning.
The Bison (55-8) scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie up the game 5-5, but allowed eight runs over the next three innings for the worst OBU loss of the season.
The Bulldogs (48-19) entered the World Series as the lowest ranked team, but are now the lone unbeaten squad despite committing four errors in the game. Cumberland is now guaranteed to play for the championship.
OBU struck first, capitalizing on an error in the top of the first to bring home Joey Szczepanski after he led off the game with a single.
Cumberland scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead, and never trailed the rest of the game.
Coming back from the first lightning delay, Matt Page scored for the Bison on another error from the Bulldog defense.
The Bulldogs scored one run in each of the next three innings to open up a 5-2 lead after five innings.
With runners on first and second, catcher Mason Ankeney hit a two RBI double in the top of the sixth to score Garrett Roberts and Kevin Hatch. Shakeel Newton entered as a courtesy runner for Ankeney, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Ridge Hoopii-Haslam to tie up the game at 5-5.
Ankeney finished 3-for-3 with two RBI in his first start of the World Series.
Jordan Morales started for OBU but did not factor into the decision. He lasted five innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits while striking out three batters.
Reliever Andrew Millner entered in the sixth, but struggled to gets outs, recording just two before getting pulled. The Bulldogs scored five earned runs on two hits to take a commanding 10-5 lead after Millner walked two batters and hit two more in the inning.
Frankie Wright entered to close out the sixth, and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
The Bulldogs scored in every inning they came to the plate except the second and seventh innings.
OBU committed two errors with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, leading to three more runs for Cumberland.
Brandon Willard pitched the eighth for the Bison, allowing three unearned runs on two hits.
The Bison left nine runners stranded for the game, while the Bulldogs left eight men on base.
OBU will play Oklahoma Wesleyan at 5 p.m. CDT Wednesday in an elimination game at Harris Field.