May 30, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - Armando Dominguez's third hit of the game, a run-scoring double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, helped Lubbock Christian University rally past Auburn University-Montgomery 7-6 in loser-out play at the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College's Harris Field.

 

Lubbock Christian, 49-16 overall, trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the ninth when leadoff batter Michael Harkins belted a solo home run, his second of the game and 21^st of the season, to tie the contest. Manny Paula then drew a walk, but AUM appeared ready to get out of the inning after a pop up and a fly out.

 

Dominguez, who had the lowest batting average among the LCU starters during the regular season, came through on the first pitch with a double to left-center. Paula scored all the way from first, beating the throw to home and giving LCU the win approximately 14 hours after the team suffered a 23-5 setback to the University of British Columbia.

 

Auburn-Montgomery, which lost its opener, had won two straight loser-out games. The Senators finish the season at 49-20.

 

AUM jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead as Travis Granberry hit a two-run single, while an error and an RBI single by Britt Clayton produced the other runs.

 

The Senators made it 5-1 in the fifth on an RBI single by Clayton, but LCU's bats finally came to life in the bottom of the inning with four runs to make it 5-5. Dominguez started the scoring with an RBI single for only one of two hits in the inning. An error, a groundout and a batter hit by a pitch with the bases loaded produced the other three runs.

 

AUM regained the lead in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Keel, but the Senators left two runners in scoring position stranded.

 

Lubbock Christian, which left 11 runners on base in the game, was paced by Dominguez and Harkins, who both 3-for-4 with two RBI. Harkins also had a solo home run in the second inning.

 

Clayton had three hits and two RBI for AUM, while Granberry drove in two runs.

 

LCU reliever David Wasylak took over after two outs in the first inning and went the rest of the way, allowing seven hits and one earned run over the final 8.1 innings. He walked one and struck out seven to improve to 6-1 overall. AUM's Brandon Ware took the loss to fall to 1-2.

 

Lubbock Christian will take on Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn., on Wednesday. The time of the game won't be determined until after the Cumberland-British Columbia game Thursday night.

 

-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.