Athletics

Avista-NAIA World Series Bracket Announced

May 14, 2012

May 14, 2012
By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications & Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - (Bracket, Live Statistics, Live Video) The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the official seedings and bracket for the 2012 Avista-NAIA World Series, hosted by Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) from May 25 - June 1 at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho. LSU Shreveport received the top seed in the 56th annual event with an Opening Round championship at the Paducah (Ky.) Bracket.

Game one of the World Series pits No. 7-seeded Point Park (Pa.) against No. 10-seeded College of Idaho on May 25 at 9 a.m. PDT. The winner of that game will face second-seeded Lee (Tenn.) at 3 p.m. on May 26.

No. 8 South Carolina Beaufort will battle No. 9 Rogers State (Okla.) at noon in the second game of the day, while No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan and No. 5 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) square off at 3 p.m. in game three. The winner of that contest takes on LSU Shreveport at 6:30 p.m. on May 26. The nightcap features No. 3 Oklahoma City and No. 6 Lewis-Clark State at 7 p.m.

South Carolina Beaufort and Rogers State are each making their first appearance in the World Series. The Sand Sharks were the last team to punch their ticket, avenging a day one, 6-3 loss, to The Sun Conference rival St. Thomas (Fla.). South Carolina Beaufort battled back through the loser's bracket with back-to-back, 5-4 and 11-2, victories against the Bobcats en route to a Hardeeville (S.C.) Bracket title on Monday. Rogers State claimed its spot on May 12 with a 7-3 victory against Hutchinson (Kan.) Bracket host Tabor (Kan.). The Hillcats previously knocked off Judson (Ill.) (9-5) and Oklahoma Baptist (5-4, 11 inn.) to reach the final.

Point Park, winner of the Marion (Ind.) Bracket, is making its first appearance since 1998. The Pioneers went 0-2 that year, losing to Cumberland (Tenn.), 8-4, before being eliminated by St. Thomas, 13-8 in 10 innings. Similarly to Point Park, College of Idaho is ending a 10 year drought following a 7-6 victory against Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in the Azusa Bracket. The Coyotes are 13-7 all-time in World Series contests, including a national championship in 1998.

Lewis-Clark State owns the most wins all-time in the history of the event with a 119-37 record in 30 previous all-time appearances. The Warriors own an NAIA-record 16 titles. Oklahoma City is second amongst the qualifiers with 14 all-time trips, while Embry-Riddle and Point Park are tied for third with 11, respectively.

Defending national champion Concordia (Calif.) did not advance out of the Opening Round after losing to Doane (Neb.), 6-5, in the Marion (Ind.) Bracket.

The World Series is a double-elimination tournament with the winner being crowned either May 31 or June 1, dependent upon if the eventual champion drops one of its earlier round games. For ticket information, contact the Lewis-Clark State ticket booth at 208-792-2471 or online at www.naiaworldseries.com/2012/tickets.

NeuLion, the NAIA's digital media partner and official video-streaming company of 10 select NAIA National Championship events, will be broadcasting all games at the 2012 Avista-NAIA World Series. Single day packages can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-series pass is available for $39.95. For more information and to pre-register, click here.

2012 Avista-NAIA World Series Qualifiers

^ Includes 2012 Opening Round