Pilots fall to Lubbock Christian at Avista-NAIA World Series
June 01, 2011
LEWISTON, Idaho - Junior right-hander Mike Marshall tossed a three-hit shutout to help sixth-seeded Lubbock Christian (Texas) move into the driver's seat at the Avista-NAIA World Series with a 2-0 win over fourth-seeded LSU Shreveport (La.) at Harris Field on Tuesday. PDT. LSU Shreveport (47-14) will face ninth-seeded Concordia (Calif.) in loser-out play at 3 p.m.The Chaps will take on fifth-seeded Lee (Tenn.) Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Lubbock Christian (49-12) is the lone undefeated team remaining in the 10-team double-elimination tournament. LSU Shreveport is one of three teams remaining with one loss and also is the highest seed still alive.
Marshall, who pitched in the NCAA Division I Tournament last year for Stanford, outdueled LSU Shreveport starter Jared Mortensen, who pitched seven strong innings in the tournament's first shutout. Marshall, a 6-foot-3, 240-pounder from Chico, Calif., pitched the first complete game of the tournament and didn't allow a hit after the fourth inning. He retired 16 of the final 20 batters he faced. Marshall (9-0) struck out eight, walked three and threw 138 pitches in the contest. With his eight strikeouts, he eclipsed 100 on the season. It was his third complete game and second shutout of the year.
Mortensen, a junior right-hander, seemed up to the task of matching Marshall. Mortensen (9-2) took a three-hitter into the seventh inning before he tired. He allowed two hits apiece in the seventh and eighth innings and finished with a seven-hitter. He gave up three runs and four walks, but struck out eight.
The downfall for LSU Shreveport was wild pitches at inopportune times.
Lubbock Christian spotted Marshall with all the runs he would need when the Chaps scored twice in the first inning. Rich Burnaman opened the frame with a walk and moved to second on a single by Nate Peterson, who was replaced by pinch runner Brett Morte. After a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, a second wild pitch by Mortensen allowed Burnaman to score and Morte to take third. Karl Seiter's sacrifice fly to right scored Morte to make it a 2-0 lead.
The Chaps' final run came in the eighth when a double, a bunt single and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. After a force out at home, relief pitcher Cody Boutte uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed the LCU baserunner at third to score for the game's final run. Peterson went 3-for- at the plate for the Chaps and was the game's only player with more than one hit.
LSU Shreveport stranded nine base runners in the game and Lubbock Christian left 10 stranded.
