May 28, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - Junior left-handed pitcher Steve Otterness helped top seed Embry-Riddle University make an impressive debut with a 7-4 win over Concordia University of Irvine, Calif., during play at the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College's Harris Field on Saturday.

 

Otterness, 8-1 overall, held Concordia scoreless until the sixth inning as Embry-Riddle showed little signs of rust after receiving a first-round bye on Friday. Otterness held Concordia scoreless over the first five innings and allowed only four hits and one run in seven innings. He walked two and struck out five.

 

Embry-Riddle, 49-13 overall, took control of the game early, scoring four times in the first inning, thanks to a costly Concordia error. After Victor Roldan singled with one out, Derrick Pyles hit a pop up that Concordia second baseman Gregg Davidson dropped. After a fly out, a wild pitch allowed Roldan to score, while Bernie Hurley added an RBI double. Danny Martin later singled in two runs.

 

That was more than enough for Otterness, who checked Concordia, 34-16-1 overall, on two hits through five innings, before the Eagles were able to break through with a run in the sixth on Brent Dohling's RBI single. Concordia then struck for three runs in the top of the eight as Justin Bird hit a two-run double.

 

By that time, Embry-Riddle had built up a comfortable seven-run lead. Embry-Riddle pushed across three more runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Michael Brady and an error.

 

Kevin Ferreiro and Brady, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the Embry-Riddle lineup, finished with two hits apiece. Bird went 3-for-4 for Concordia with two RBI.

 

Both teams will resume action on Monday. Concordia will take on host Lewis-Clark State at noon, Pacific time, in loser-out play. Embry-Riddle will meeting Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn., in the winner's bracket at 3 p.m. Cumberland has defeated Embry-Riddle in each of the past two years at the Series.

 

 

 

-NAIA-

 

A leader in the development of student-athletes, the NAIA is committed to changing the culture of sport through Champions of Character. Founded in 1937, the NAIA continues to be a pioneer in implementing exceptional standards for academics, diversity, and character. Today, the NAIA sponsors 23 collegiate championships in 13 sports for its nearly 300 member institutions throughout the United States and Canada.