LEWISTON, Idaho - Lee University wound up the NAIA baseball runner-up for the second time in three years, with a third-place finish in between, as the Flames' ninth-inning rally fell short Thursday night against fellow Tennessee team Cumberland University.
The second-seeded Bulldogs edged the No. 4 Flames 4-3 after All-American pitcher Aaron Wilkerson took a 4-0 lead into the last inning. His catcher, David Fanshawe, hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and a two-run single in the fifth off Matthew Gilson, who struck out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings but lost for the first time in 11 decisions this season.
Lee All-American Junior Rodriguez began the Flames' last-chance at-bat with a walk but was forced at second base on Jose Cuevas' bloop that fell in the outfield. Edgar Molina then singled and Michael Brown from Hixson - and Baylor School - blasted a three-run home run. Seth Walker singled to left field to get the tying run on base, but Taylor Comford bounced back to Wilkerson (14-1) for a game-ending double play.
Leadoff man JJ Costantino, another All-American, and Molina each was 2-for-4 for Lee (52-13).
NAIA player of the year Matt Greener and Dave Weyer each was 2-for-4 and All-American Kris Miller and Fanshaw each was 2-for-5 for Cumberland (58-9), which also won the 2004 NAIA title under longtime coach Woody Hunt.
Earlier Thursday, the Bulldogs eliminated Point Loma Nazarene behind Greener's grand slam and six RBIs and Lee took out Embry-Riddle, 10-7, as Trey Burstrom had two RBIs with two hits and Walker scored three times. Cumberland had held off the Flames 11-9 in the winners-bracket final late Tuesday night.
Troy Frazier and Shawn Schaefer were other All-Americans for Cumberland, and Tennessee Wesleyan second baseman Cody Gaskill also was a first-team selection. Wesleyan's Max Loveland and Lee's Tanner Moore and Scott Swinson received honorable mention.