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Eastern Oklahoma State College fell 6-4 to Central Alabama CC late Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 8,115 in the second round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series. The Mountaineers remain alive in the tournament and will play Dixie State at 3:00 on Wednesday at Suplizio Field.

Dixie advanced through the losers bracket by defeating Iowa Western on Tuesday. Central Alabama beat Dixie State in the first round. There are only five teams remaining in the tournament with Cowley County and Central Alabama in the winners bracket and North Central Texas joining Eastern and Dixie in the losers side.

Brad Thomas opened the game for the Mountaineers retiring the Trojans in order in the top of the first, with one strkeout. Eastern drew first blood in the bottom of the first Tommy Pratt popped up to the third baseman, Matt Lamb drew a base on balls on a full count before Eric Keller sent the first pitch he saw thirty feet up the light pole in dead rightfield.

Travis Calton followed with a double to left, Ryan Brnardic walked, Chris Scrivner struck out swinging, Chris Eng walked to load the bases as the Mountaineers were threatening to blow the game open in the bottom of the first inning. Eric Miller grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning.

The Trojans went in order in the second inning with Thomas striking out two.

Terry Stevens led off the second with a walk and stole second and moved to third on Pratt's ground ball to the second baseman. Lamb sacrificed to left scoring Stevens to give the Mountaineers the early lead 3-0. Keller then walked before Calton grounded out to end the inning.

Just as things looked comfortable for Eastern, Central Alabama's Kerri Fair reached on an infield single to lead off the third, moving to second on an errant throw by first baseman Brnardic. Thomas attempted the pick off at first, catching Fair in no man's land. Fair broke for second and Brnardic's throw sailed left of second. Tommy Claridy, second base for the Trojans singled to left, advancing Fair to third, then stole second himself. The next batter, Daryl Griggs tripled down the right field line to plate two runs and get the Trojans back in the ballgame.

The Trojans added one run in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Eastern struck for one run when Stevens walked and moved to third when Pratt singled with two outs and scored on an error by the centerfielder.

Eastern never mounted a serious threat after the sixth.

The Trojans added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to end the scoring at 6-4.Eastern managed only four hits to eight for the Central Alabama. B.J. Weolders relieved Thomas in the seventh inning.

Thomas struck out eight, walking two, surrendering seven hits with 92 pitches. Weolders faced 12 batters in three innings, striking out five and walking two on 48 pitches.

Stevens leads the team in batting during the series with a .600 average, followed by Pratt at .417, Michael Hill .333, Calton .313, Keller .308 and Brnardic .300.

With a win Wednesday the Mountaineers will finish no worse than fourth in the nation and guarantee at least a .500 record for the season. Their record now stands at 27-27. This team has jelled at the right time going 7-2 in the playoffs this season. They will need four more wins for the National crown.