NAIA Top 25 and recap for April 13th

Results of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll for April 13, 2010, and Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. (poll below)

#1 Lewis-Clark State swept three games against Division III Willamette. The Warriors’ last loss was April 15. They have won 13 straight, and are having their best start in school history. Upcoming: at #4 British Columbia April 16-18, at Corban April 19-20. The British Columbia series will be webcast by both KOZE and CITR.

After a 5-4 loss to #21 Campbellsville, #2 Cumberland swept three games against Trevecca Nazarene, defeated Lindsey Wilson 6-3, and Bryan 15-5. One of the Trevecca wins was 15-0, and Robert Post pitched the mercy-rule-shortened five-inning shutout. He was named TranSouth Conference Pitcher of the Week. The Bulldogs lead the TranSouth Conference with a 7-2 record, but they lead Freed-Hardeman and #12 Union U. (TN) by only one game. Upcoming: Freed-Hardeman April 16-17, at Lindsey Wilson April 19.

Lewis-Clark State received all 22 first-place votes.

#3 Oklahoma City won two of three against Oklahoma Baptist, and lost a non-conference game to Northwood (TX) 6-3. In an 11-1 win over Oklahoma Baptist, Terrance Jackson recorded ten strikeouts in only 5 2/3 innings of work, and was also 2-5 with a double and two RBI at the plate. 3B Steve Vitale now has 17 home runs for the Stars, Chad Carman leads the Stars in hitting with a .438 average. Upcoming: at Saint Gregory’s April 15, Saint Gregory’s April 17, Bacone April 19.

#4 British Columbia swept four games against Concordia-Portland. They trailed 7-1 going into the eighth inning of the first game, but scored eight runs in the bottom of the eighth, capped by a three-run home run by SS Sammie Starr. The third game was a three-hit complete-game shutout by Brandon Kaye, but Kaye was upstaged by Mark Hardy, who pitched a no-hitter in the fourth game. Hardy walked three batters, struck out six. This was the first no-hitter for the Thunderbirds since 2005. Kaye is now 5-0, 2.24 ERA. True freshman 3B Keaton Briscoe leads the Thunderbirds in hitting with a .395 average. The Thunderbirds continue to lead the NAIA with a fielding percentage of .978, which is .001 better than Oklahoma City and #12 Union U. (TN). Upcoming: #1 Lewis-Clark State April 16-18.

#5 Cal Baptist dropped a game to San Diego Christian, 10-6 in ten innings, then won the next three games 22-3, 5-2, and 9-3. C Sharif Othman hit .615 for the four games, had three home runs and ten RBI. The Lancers have a 20-4 record in the Golden State Athletic Conference, and a three-game lead over #13 Vanguard and #9 Point Loma Nazarene. Upcoming: Biola April 14-15, at Biola April 17.

#6 Lee defeated Tennessee Temple, swept three games against Talladega, and defeated U. Of the Cumberland. In one of the Talladega games, the Flames won 2-0 without getting a hit. Both runs were scored by Trey Burstrom. He reached on an error in the fourth inning, stole second, was bunted to third, and came home on a balk by Tornado pitcher James Rodriguez. In the sixth inning, Burstrom stole second and third, and came home on a wild throw by the catcher to third base. Jay Bolen and Aaron Everett combined to hold the Tornado to two hits. Rodriguez went the distance, got the no-hitter and the loss. The Flames are tied with #18 Faulkner for the lead in the Southern States Athletic Conference. Upcoming: at Shorter April 16-17.

#7 Lubbock Christian swept a double-header at U. of the Southwest, 13-2 and 7-6. Upcoming: at Mid-American Christian April 16-17.

#8 Bellevue swept four games at Central Christian, outscoring them 60-5. Upcoming: at Briar Cliff April 14, Oklahoma Wesleyan April 16-17.

#9 Point Loma Nazarene won three out of four against #13 Vanguard. Stephen Winnick got the win in the first game of the series, running his record to 7-1, 1.80 ERA. Chad Blauer got a win in the third game, and he is 8-1, 2.54 ERA, with 58 strikeouts. Upcoming: The Master’s April 14-15, at The Master’s April 17.

#10 Embry-Riddle swept three games against Savannah College of Art and Design, and defeated Thomas. The Eagles also lost 11-1 in a seven-inning exhibition game against the Class A Daytona Cubs, but seven Eagle pitchers combined for seven strikeouts against the Cubs. Austin Quinn got a complete-game shutout in one of the games against SCAD. Quinn is 7-2, 1.44 ERA with 62 strikeouts. Jonathan Kountis is 6-2, 3.86 ERA, and is fourth in the NAIA with 75 strikeouts. Upcoming: Saint Thomas April 17-17.

#13 LSU-Shreveport got a 10-7 win over Division I Louisiana Tech. Pilots starter Jeff Nadeau went 5 1/3 innings, held the Bulldogs to one run on six hits. C Andrew Brouillette went 3-6 with two RBI and two runs scored, and the Pilots helped themselves with two double plays (one of them unassisted by 1B Kevin Smith) and two more outstanding plays by SS Shawn Moy and RF Chase Wentz. The Pilots then won two of three games against LSU-Alexandria. The Pilots trail #11 Belhaven by one game in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings. Upcoming: at Loyola-New Orleans April 17-18, at Northwood (TX) April 21.

Matt Lackner pitched a no-hitter for Park in a game against U. Of Saint Mary that was shortened to six innings by the mercy rule. He threw 75 pitches, recorded nine strikeouts. He faced two batters over the minimum, issued a walk hit a batter. Lackner was named the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week.

Brice Cutspec of Azusa Pacific set an NAIA career record of 73 home runs on April 10, in an 8-7 (8 inninngs, scheduled for 7) loss to Fresno Pacific. Click here for a YouTube video of the home run.