LCSC ousts defending champions

LEWISTON – Junior right-hander Kyle Wright tossed an eight-hitter to help host Lewis-Clark State College defeat No. 5 seed Cumberland of Lebanon, Tenn., 4-2 in a battle of the last two national champions at the 49th annual Avista NAIA World Series on Wednesday.

The loss was the second straight for the defending champion Bulldogs, who finished the season at 56-21. Lewis-Clark State, which won titles in 2002 and 2003, is two wins away from winning it this year and will play top-seeded Embry-Riddle tonight at 7. Embry-Riddle beat No. 2 seed Oklahoma City 12-5 in the second game.

Wright, 7-1 on the season, went the distance and allowed only one earned run with four walks and 10 strikeouts. He gave up three hits in the first inning, but held Cumberland to just three hits over the next six innings. It was Wright’s second victory of the tournament as he pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief in LCSC’s 5-3 win over Lee University in the opening round.

LCSC, the No. 3 seed and 47-8 overall, scored single runs in the first three innings to give Wright all he needed. Joey Dyche singled in the first and scored on Ryan Stevenson’s single to left. In the second, two walks and a single by Antoine McLeod loaded the bases with one out, but the Warriors managed only one run on a wild pitch. D.J. Kooken’s solo home run put the Warriors ahead 3-1.