AAC Teams Endure Rough NAIA Baseball Opening Round

WALESKA, Ga. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) had a bumpy time in the NAIA Baseball Opening Round as four teams combined to go 3-8.

Hattiesburg Bracket

Union put up a valiant effort, but the Bulldogs went 0-2 in the NAIA Opening Round. Union started out with a 2-0 lead against Houston-Victoria (Texas), but the Cougars used a six-run seventh in collecting the 11-7 win. Hazel Martinez went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI for Union.

In an elimination game, Union fell behind 8-0 after three innings thanks to a seven-run third by Texas Wesleyan. Union cut the margin in half with a four-run fifth, but the Bulldogs could not catch the Rams, who won 11-8. Angel Mendoza went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, and Logan Romasanta also had two RBI.

Union finished the year 30-19-1 overall.

Kingsport Bracket

Postseason play started off well for Bryan as it won its opener 10-1 over Missouri Baptist. Owen Napieralski went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, and four RBI for the Lions, and Parker Cosby finished 3-for-5 with two RBI.

However, Bryan dropped its next two games to end its season, losing 8-3 to Indiana Wesleyan and 21-4 to Missouri Baptist.

The Lions wrapped up the season with a 36-19 record.

Upland Bracket

The opening round started off rough for Tennessee Wesleyan as it dropped its first game to Point Park (Pa.) 8-4. However, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 30-18, 12-inning win over Cumberland (Tenn.). Tennessee Wesleyan trailed the entire game but used a nine-run ninth to take an 18-15 lead. Cumberland, though, came back to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. It remained tied until the 12th when Tennessee Wesleyan exploded for 12 runs. During the decisive rally, Marco Martinez and Preston Welchel each had a three-run home run.

There were three NAIA Opening Round records tied or set in the 30-18 win. The 48 combined runs are the most in NAIA Opening Round history with the previous record being 39. Tennessee Wesleyan tied the record for most doubles in a game with nine. Carson Ford and Cayle Webster each had three doubles. Webster tied the record for most runs scored in a game as he crossed the plate five times.

Despite the offensive outburst, Tennessee Wesleyan fell in its next game, losing 6-5 in 10 innings to Point Park. The Bulldogs led 5-3 after seven innings, but the Pioneers scored twice in the eighth to tie the game and picked up the game-winner in the 10th. Ford drove in all five runs for Tennessee Wesleyan as he went 2-for-4 with a grand slam.

Tennessee Wesleyan ended the season 43-11.

Williamsburg Bracket

Reinhardt fell 13-5 to Cumberlands in its opener. The Patriots led the entire game and led by as much as 11-1 after seven innings. Reinhardt put up four runs in the eighth as Cumberlands locked up the eight-run win. Jamel Rookard had a solo home run in the Eagles' loss.

The Eagles bounced back with a 5-2 win over the Rams of Moblie (Ala.). Reinhardt jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and eventually built a 5-0 lead. Mobile scored twice in the ninth, but it would not be enough. Nash Crowell and Richard Castro each had a home run and two RBI in the win.

Reinhardt put together a pair of three-run innings against Columbia (Mo.). Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Cougars won 9-6 to eliminate the Eagles. Rookard and Crowell each had two hits and one RBI.

The Eagles finished the season 34-20.

To view all the results for the NAIA Opening Round, click here.