< Whitmore Leads Chaps to Win in First Series Contest

Chaps Set to Face OCU in World Series

Lewiston, ID - The Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals look to advance in the winner's bracket of the 2011 Avista-NAIA World Series here Monday night as they face conference rival Oklahoma City University at 9:00 pm (CST).

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LCU advanced to tonight's contest by virtue of their 7-2 win in the opening round over #3-seeded Oklahoma Baptist University.  Lucas Whitmore was outstanding on the mound for the Chaps as he limited OBU, another SAC rival, to just three hits in the win.  He was relieved by Tyler Curtis with two outs to go in the ninth and Curtis got the final two hitters of the game to preserve the victory and help LCU advance in the tourney. The Stars of Oklahoma City University, seeded #2 in the tournament, got an opening round bye, but they were able to survive in their second round contest against host school, Lewis-Clark State College, winning 2-1 late Saturday night.  The Stars held off a late Warriors rally and stranded the tying and winning runs on base in the final frame.  The game between the Stars and Warriors featured a bench-clearing "situation" in the final inning before order was restored.  Despite NAIA rules that clearly address such "flare ups" no player was ejected for either team. As LCU gets set to face OCU on Monday night the Chaps will likely send junior lefthander Tyler Rogers to the mound.  The San Ramon, CA product is 5-0 with a 2.80 ERA on the year.  If Rogers pitches for the Chaps it will mark his first outing against OCU this season.  The Chaps lost all three contests to the Stars when the teams met in Oklahoma City during conference play back in early March.  OCU won 1-0, 5-3 and 7-4 to claim the SAC series victory. LCU (#6) and OCU are among just four remaining unbeaten squads in the 10-team NAIA World Series.  Joining them are #1 seed Embry-Riddle (Florida) and #4 seed LSU-Shreveport.  All of the eight remaining teams in the tournament (Tennessee Wesleyan and Faulkner, AL were eliminated on Saturday) had an off day on Sunday.  The Chaps spent the day enjoying a breakfast hosted by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, attended local church services and then were treated to a bar-b-que lunch by their tournament host family at Hell's Gate State Park.

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