LEWISTON, ID. (May 28^th, 2019) – Sixth-seeded St. Thomas University (47-13) defeated No. 2 seed, University of Science and Arts (OK.) (47-11) 6-5 on Monday evening in Game 12 of the Avista NAIA World Series to stay in the winner's bracket.

Notables

• Ian Exposito broke the St. Thomas University single-season strikeout record (126) with his 10^th strikeout of the game, in the seventh inning.
• The eleven strikeout performance gives Exposito six starts this season with at least ten strikeouts.
• Chris Garabedian hit his second career World Series home run, tying the senior with Sergio Lopez for most World Series Home Runs.

Bobcat Starters: Jackie Urbaez (2B), Erick Delgado (SS), Sergio Lopez (RF), Alejandro Rivero (3B), Chris Garabedian (1B), Jack Diaz (DH), Joey Thompson (LF), Daniel Mondejar (C), Gus Guerra (LF), Daniel Lowry (CF), Ian Exposito (SP)

Game Notes

• Ian Exposito (12-2) earned his team-leading, 12^th win of the season, pitching seven innings, while striking out 11 and allowing three earned runs.
• In the top of the second inning, USAO took a 2-0 advantage, blasting a two-run home run to center field.
• STU quickly responded, tying the game in the bottom of the second with back-to-back RBI doubles from Thompson and Mondejar.
• Mondejar maintained his hot bat, driving in two more RBIs in the bottom of the third, with a two-run single, bringing in Garabedian and Rivero.
• The Bobcats added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Garabedian hit his sixth home run of the season over the right-centerfield fence to extend the lead to 6-2.
• USAO began to come back into the game, cutting the STU lead to 6-3, with a RBI single in the fifth inning.
• In each of Exposito's seven innings of work, the southpaw recorded a strikeout.
• Jason Graña entered the game in the top of the eighth inning, attempting to earn his ninth save of the season.
• The Drovers scored their fourth run of the game with another RBI single in the top of the eighth, putting the score at 6-4.
• STU held the 6-4 lead as the game entered its final frame. USAO hit a lead-off home run, cutting the lead to just one.
• Graña recorded the final three outs, allowing one more base runner, hanging on to earn the save and advance STU to the semi-final round of the NAIA World Series.

MVBobcats
Ian Exposito: 12-2, 7 IP, 11 strikeouts
Chris Garabedian: 2-5, 2-R HR
Daniel Mondejar: 2-4, three RBIs

Upcoming
St. Thomas has advanced to the semi-final round of the NAIA World Series for the third time in progam history (2007, 2015) and will take on top-seeded, Tennessee Wesleyan on Tuesday night from Harris Field in the NAIA World Series. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET