LEWISTON, Idaho – The Embry-Riddle Eagles and South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks traveled an average of 2,700 miles to play in the 2012 Avista-NAIA World Series; little did they know they would be facing each other for the fifth time this season. With the season series tied at 2-2, the rubber match on Saturday morning at Lewis-Clark State's Harris Field proved to be the most crucial game of 2012 for both teams. The Sand Sharks took advantage of five Eagle errors and came away with a 7-2 victory, eliminating ERAU and ending Embry-Riddle's season.
The second game of the Eagles' World Series started much like their first game as USCB sent eight batters to the dish in the first frame, starting by putting runners on first and second with no outs before a double steal advanced the runners. Eaton struck out Dylan Nasiatka before Ty Main drilled a single back up the middle to score one and Conald Mansfield added two more with an RBI hit to center to make the score 3-0 in favor of the Sand Sharks. Three Eagle errors aided USCB in the first inning, a familiar theme for ERAU after their six miscues on Friday.
Adam Miller took the mound for the Sand Sharks and got two quick outs in the bottom of the first, but a single by
Ben Kline started a two-out rally for the Blue and Gold. Kline swiped second base before scoring on a single from
Chris Page, cutting the USCB lead to 3-1.
Ian MacGeorge singled to right field to put runners on the corners, but Miller retired the Eagles when
Frankie Arias grounded into a fielder's choice that forced MacGeorge out at second.
RJ Neal delivered a two-out double in the second, but
Jeff Lemon and Page combined for a nice 5-3 putout of Nasiatka to end the threat.
The Sand Sharks defense mimicked the Eagle defense in the bottom of the second, as three USCB errors allowed
JT Warmoth to score and
Matt Skipper to reach second with no outs in the frame.
Adam Cellini worked a full count against Miller before drawing a walk.
Greg Smith singled to right to load the bases with no outs for
Jeff Lemon. Lemon ripped a ball towards first base, but Brandon Collins made a fantastic dive to retire Lemon before throwing to second to double up Cellini's courtesy runner
Tyler Robbins. Kline popped up to short to end the Eagle threat, leaving two more Embry-Riddle runners on the bases.
Another USCB double was wasted in the third after Mansfield hit one off the wall in right, but two consecutive fly outs sent the game to the bottom of the third with the score still at 3-2 in favor of the Sand Sharks.
Page began the Eagle third with a single to left before MacGeorge barely missed a two-run home run with a blast off the wall in right-center field, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Arias grounded into his second fielder's choice of the contest as MacGeorge was put out at second for the first out of the frame. Miller wasn't fazed and left both Eagles on the bases by striking out Warmoth and getting Skipper to fly out down the right field line.
Eaton held the Sand Sharks scoreless for the third straight inning in the fourth, getting a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame, but the Eagles stranded their seventh runner of the game in their half of the inning, sending the game to the fifth with USCB holding a 3-2 lead.
Both starters cruised through the fifth, with Miller delivering his third straight scoreless inning and Eaton with his fourth.
Embry-Riddle once again threatened in the sixth, but once again, stranded runners on the bases, leaving two on when Lemon grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Despite struggling at the plate, the Eagle third baseman made three unbelievable diving plays at third to keep USCB from extending their lead in the seventh; unfortunately for the Eagles, a Page single in the bottom of the inning went for naught as MacGeorge grounded into ERAU's second double play of the morning, ending the frame.
The Sand Sharks finally broke through in the eighth after two more Eagle errors led to three USCB runs, chasing Eaton from the game.
Eric Green entered for Eaton with runners on the corners and recorded a strikeout of Neal to end the frame, but the damage was already done as the Sand Sharks led 6-2 entering the bottom of the eighth.
Miller gave up a double to Warmoth with an out in the eighth, but retired the next two batters to preserve his squad's 6-2 lead.
USCB tacked on an insurance run in the ninth thanks to a sacrifice fly from Mansfield, pushing the Sand Shark advantage to 7-2.
David Lidyard relieved Green with runners on the corners and threw one pitch to get one out and end the half inning.
Colton Rudd was perfect in the ninth, retiring the top of the Eagle order to end the Eagles' season.
Eaton received the loss (7-6), despite allowing only one earned run on eight hits over 7.2 innings. The Warner Robbins, Ga. native struck out seven Sand Sharks and threw 106 pitches.
The Eagles finish 43-18 on the year, their 22nd consecutive winning season and 14th 40+ win year. Embry-Riddle captured their fifth straight and 13th overall Sun Conference regular season title before making their 11th appearance at the NAIA World Series.
Nine Eagle seniors played their final game on Saturday, including
Greg Smith,
JT Warmoth,
Daniel Eaton,
Ben Kline,
Chris Page,
Ian MacGeorge,
Frankie Arias,
James Podlucky and
Mike Huber.
