Chris Cordova pitches for Missouir-Baptist (Photo Courtesy: Bill Meyers)
No. 5 seed Culver-Stockton (Mo.) gave top-seeded Missouri Baptist all it could handle, but in the end, the Spartans pulled out an 11-10 win in the third game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round in the Kingsport, TN Bracket.
With the win, Missouri Baptist (46-12 overall) advances to face No. 3 seed Cumberland (Tenn.) on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Culver-Stockton (30-27 overall) plays at 6 p.m. Tuesday against the winner of the Bryan and Brewton-Parker elimination game at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
In the ninth, the Spartans had two on with one out when Jeff Smith doubled to push the go-ahead run across. Culver-Stockton got two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but a flyout to center ended the threat.
Elsewhere, In Lawrenceville, Georgia, third seeded Williams Woods/Fulton lost 11-5 to second seeded Southeastern Florida. The Owls play an elimination game at 11.
