Boxscore
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks led the entire game and was able to withstand a late Biola charge in the ninth to move on in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round - Daytona Beach bracket, 6-3. The Warhawks will face the winner of tonight's Embry-Riddle v. Siena Heights game tomorrow at 2 p.m., while the Eagles of Biola will face elimination tomorrow morning against Southern Poly at 10 a.m.
The Warhawks jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the home-half of the first after Hunter Cross doubled in Logan Remson, and a dropped third strike and throwing error by Biola's catcher, Mike Lopez allowed Rusty Todd to reach first safely and brought in Cross from second. Shane Turner doubled in the final run of the first to give AUM starter Cory McGinnis a three-run cushion.
McGinnis kept the Eagles off-balance throughout most of his eight-inning performance, rarely allowing Biola to put runners in scoring position.
AUM scored a run in the fifth and two runs in the seventh, all of which would prove to be critical in the ninth.
With a 6-0 lead, McGinnis started the top of the ninth, but walked the first batter he faced, giving way to Tyler Dent. Dent surrendered two straight singles to BU before walking an Eagle to load the bases. Michael Carden entered the game in a rare five-run save situation with the bases loaded and a 6-1 lead. Carden walked one run in before inducing a double play for the first two outs of the ninth as another Eagle run crossed the plate. The final out of the contest was recorded when Lopez struck out swinging.
McGinnis improved to 6-4 on the year while AUM moved to 37-22 overall. Carden recorded his fourth save of the season in relief.
