Lewiston, Idaho ----- Houston Baptist University saw its national title hopes dashed with a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to host and No. 1 ranked Lewis-Clark State College before 4,640 at Harris Field in the Avista NAIA World Series. The Huskies made a valiant run through the loser's bracket only to fall one run shy of playing for the national championship.
HBU fell behind early, as the Warriors put up three runs in the first inning on a pair of RBI singles after a run-scoring fielder's choice. The Huskies would come back in the bottom of the third to tie the score with a three-spot of their own.
Michael Crabtree singled and Andrew Taccolini doubled to start the inning, and a walk to Eric Schiro loaded the bases. Jay Prigmore had an RBI groundout, and two batters later, Kory Johns brought in two runs with a single up the box.
LC would retake the three-run advantage in the third, chasing HBU starter Matthew Headley. Ryan Wholey had a two-run pinch-hit homer to right center and Jesse Roehl had an RBI single to put the Warriors up 6-3.
HBU would slowly chip away at the lead. The Huskies got single runs in the third and fifth frames, both courtesy of Andrew Taccolini. A sacrifice fly in the third brought the score to 6-4 and a RBI single up the middle in the fifth scored Greg Gossett, who had tripled to lead off the frame.
The Huskies took their first and only lead in the sixth. A throwing error allowed courtesy runner J.W. Beachump to score, and Greg Gossett put HBU in front with a single to left that plated Ryan Majewski.
That lead was short-lived however, as LCSC came back in the top of the seventh to knot the score once more on a sacrifice fly by Roehl.
Lewis-Clark State captured the lead for good in the eighth inning. After two quick outs, Ikaika Lester homered to right center, providing the eventual winning margin.
HBU put a runner on in the ninth but could not score.
Kory Johns went 2-3 with two RBI and Andrew Taccolini went 2-4 with two RBI. Greg Gossett went 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Michael Crabtree went 2-4.
Keith Brunson took the loss, despite tossing seven strong innings of relief. He allowed just two runs on five hits and two walks while fanning two, dropping to 4-4.
Houston Baptist ends its World Series run with a third-place finish. The Huskies, who entered the series seeded ninth after receiving the final at-large to the 10-team field, raced through the loser's bracket after losing their opening game, coming one game short of playing for the national title. It is the farthest any team from the Red River has gotten in the postseason, and keeps alive a string of seven straight years that Region VI has finished no worse than third in the country.
Lewis-Clark, now 57-5, will play for its 15th title on Thursday night. Spring Arbor University will have to beat the Warriors twice.
This is the longest season in HBU history, lasting until May 30 and seeing a school record 64 games played. In addition, the Huskies saw several single-season marks broken in what is arguably the most successful season in school history.
Gossett's two hits on Wednesday night pushed him to 98 on the season, breaking the mark of 93 set by Michael Crabtree last year.
The Huskies had three players eclipse the at-bats mark of 228, with Chad Hebert establishing the new high with 262. Ryan Majewski set a new mark for triples with 10 while also tying the record for walks with 41.
Four players broke the mark for games played, while Keith Brunson came one game shy of tying the record for most appearances on the mound.
Houston Baptist finishes its final season of NAIA competition at 43-21. The Huskies lose six seniors off this year's squad: Michael Crabtree, Kory Johns, Diego Castillo, Matt Weible, Eli Elicerio and Clay Collier.
