LEWISTON, Idaho - Faulkner and Lewis-Clark State -- the two schools have become synonymous with the Avista NAIA World Series over the past decade. Friday night, the two teams tango in the nightcap slated for a 9 p.m. central first pitch.

The Eagles voyage for the eighth consecutive time and ninth time in ten years to the Northwest while the hosts appear for the 39th time. The two teams combine for 71.6 percent of the total appearances (48 of 67) from the ten teams in the field. 

HISTORY 

You cannot talk about the World Series without mentioning one of the best postseason rivalries in small college athletics. Friday night's battle will be the 10th meeting between Faulkner and Lewis-Clark State. The Warriors lead the all-time series 6-3. Five of these meetings have come as a potential red banner game, deciding three national titles. Faulkner beat the hosts in the first matchup 11-4 in 2013 to win its championship, while the Warriors clinched the 2016 and 2017 championships against the Eagles. The 6-4 decision in the 2017 if necessary game was the most recent meeting. Lewis-Clark State narrowly outscored Faulkner in the first nine games 64-58, with five games decided by less than two runs. Friday's meeting will be the first time these two teams have met before the third round of the World Series. 

THE STAKES

These teams have always met with high stakes, and although this game won't end in a dogpile, the purse still weighs heavy for the matchup. Whoever takes this game is in a really good position to make a run towards the red banner while the loser has a massive uphill climb. The winner of the game rests until Monday night at 8:30 p.m. central when four teams will be on their way back home. They will turn around and battle for their season Saturday at 1:30 p.m. central and could be the second team eliminated, having to win at least five games over the next six days to take the title.

THE PATHS

The Eagles went 3-1 against the No. 10 and No. 13 teams in the country in the Montgomery Bracket, winning the most difficult Opening Round in the country. The Opening Round was part of a 53.36 weighted opponent win percentage* season that Faulkner navigated to a 38-10 record. The Eagles were 14-7 against teams over .500 this season and 9-7 against teams in the top 25 at the time the game was played. Faulkner finished the Southern States Athletic Conference as runners up in the regular season and tournament. 

The Warriors received their 29th and final automatic bid to the World Series -- Lewis-Clark State will play through an opening round that they will host starting next season -- on the tail end of a 41-4 campaign. They ran through their largely Cascade Collegiate Conference slate with a 30-2 record, including a conference tournament title where they outscored their opponents 31-3 over three games. The non conference slate, which concluded Feb. 12 with their most recent contests against teams with a winning record, featured seven games against teams finishing with a winning record and the Warriors went 6-1 in those contests and 4-1 against teams in the top 25. The Warriors weighted opponent win percentage* was 39.13 percent, in large part to playing their four conference teams, who all finished with losing records, eight times or more. 

THE NUMBERS

These two teams, along with the whole tournament field, bring big-time bats and strong arms. Faulkner ranks seventh nationally in opponent batting average (.231), eighth in RBIs per game (8.708), eighth in stolen bases per game (2.583) and 12th in team batting average (.338). The Eagles feature nine batters who have more than 40 at bats and a batting average over .300. 

Lewis-Clark State ranks first in runs scored per game (11.222), RBIs per game (10.156), second in pitching ERA (3.240), third in doubles per game (2.778), sixth in home runs per game (1.911) ninth in slugging percentage (.584), 10th in batting average (.340) and 10th in opponent batting average (.233). The Warriors bats boast eight batters with 40 or more at bats hitting over .300.

Opponents have swiped just 26 bases on 36 attempts on the Warriors for a 72.2 percent steal percentage. Lewis-Clark State took 65 bases on 79 attempts through the season. Faulkner has stolen 124 bases on 143 attempts. The Eagles have erased 17 base runners on 70 stolen base attempts for a 75.7 opponent steal percentage. 

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS

For Faulkner, look no further than Antonio Frias as the potential game one starter. "Papi Punchout" has simply been electric this year with the country's lowest opponent batting average (.149) and 119 strikeouts en route to an 11-0 record. His opposition will likely be Eric Chavarria. The right-handed pitcher is ninth in the country for total runs allowed with 19 through 63 innings pitched with an 8-1 record. The two pitchers, with opposite hands, have similar ERAs with Frias's 2.22 and Chavarria's 2.43. 

Frias would look to continue the loss revenge tour that started with him no-hitting his most recent loss (at William Carey Feb. 28, 2020) back in March. The last time Frias was on the bump at Harris Field, he suffered the second loss of his career after a rough, quick outing against Bellevue in the 2019 World Series. 

STATS WITH NO RELEVANCE NOBODY ASKED FOR

Faulkner is 2-3 overall and 0-1 against Lewis-Clark State on May 28 in the World Series. In 2016, the Eagles beat Lindsey Wilson 5-4 in the second day of the World Series nightcap after defeating Vanguard in the championship game of the Opening Round and receiving a first round bye. 
May 28 is the latest start date for the World Series since 2010. 

COVERAGE

The games will be broadcast on the NAIA Network in a pay-per-view format -- $14.95 for a day pass and $34.95 for the tournament pass.
Live stats will be available on Dakstats.

*Weighted opponent win percentage measures number of contests against each team and their winning percentage for an average of each contest's opponent's win percentage.