THE 2012 NAIA COLLEGE WORLD SERIES GETS UNDERWAY TODAY!

 Oh, to be in Lewiston, ID in the springtime! Once again Lewiston is playing home to the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) World Series. 10 teams have gathered together for this double- elimination tournament to crown a new champion, following last year’s champs, Concordia (CA), being ousted in the regional playoffs.

The University of South Carolina- Beaufort Sand Sharks (logo above left) and the Rogers State University Hillcats are making their 1st appearance in the final field of 10 teams. The top 2 seeds, the LSU- Shreveport Pilots (riverboat pilots) and the Lee University Flames, respectively, each have a bye in today’s opening round and will play their first games tomorrow.

Among the 8 teams hitting the diamond today will be the (10) College of Idaho Coyotes and the (7) Point Park University Pioneers in Game 1 at 12 Noon ET. The aforementioned (8) USCB Sand Sharks and the (9) Rogers State Hillcats face each other at 3pm ET, followed by the (4) Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs taking on the (5) Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles at 6pm ET. The 10 pm game will feature the host team, the (6) Lewis- Clark State Warriors vs the (3) Oklahoma City University Stars.

For scores from BOTH the NAIA and the NCAA D3 World Series keep checking back here at Balladeer’s Blog throughout the day for udpated scores.

NAIA WORLD SERIES – (7) PPU Pioneers over the (10) C of I Coyotes  7-3  *****  (9) RSU Hillcats UPSET the (8) USCB Sand Sharks  in a 3-2  Instant Classic  *****  (4) TN Wes Bulldogs ANNIHILATED the (5) ERAU Eagles  17-3  Score was just 6-3 going into the 6th inning  *****  (3) OCU Stars over the (6) LCSC Warriors  7-2  Score was 5-2 going into the 9th inning

NCAA D3 WORLD SERIES – Wheaton (MA) Lyons over the Webster University Gorloks  3-2  *****  Cortland State Red Dragons over the Kean Cougars  10-5  *****  St Thomas (MN) Tommies over the Christopher Newport University Captains  12-7  *****  Marietta College Pioneers (defending champs) over the Whitworth Pirates  13-2