LEWISTON, Idaho ? Shortstop Kenny Holmberg continued to swing a big bat, collecting three hits and driving in four runs to help top seed Embry-Riddle University defeat No. 2 seed Oklahoma City, 12-5, and remain alive in the 49th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College?s Harris Field on Wednesday.

Holmberg helped the Daytona Beach, Fla., university remain in the hunt for its first Series title by hitting a solo home run in the third and a three-run double in the seventh that just barely missed going over the fence. Holmberg went 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. In the Series, Holmberg is now 8-for-18 with nine RBI and six runs scored.

Embry-Riddle (52-9) gave Oklahoma City (66-13) its first loss in the 10-team double-elimination tournament. That means Embry-Riddle will face No. 3 seed Lewis-Clark State (47-8) at 7 p.m. PDT Thursday, with the winner playing OCU on Friday at 7:05 p.m. in the championship game. The Stars receive the bye on Thursday into the championship game because it is the last team in the tournament to lose its first game.

It?s the fourth straight year OCU has played in the title game, but the program, like Embry-Riddle, is still looking for its first championship.

Embry-Riddle came out swinging early as Holmberg?s solo home run with two outs in the top of the first inning set the tone. The Eagles never trailed in the game and played solid all around to capture the win.

The Eagles made it 3-0 in the second on an RBI bunt single by Garret McLeod and a balk.

After the two teams exchanged runs in the fifth and OCU cut the margin to 4-2 in the top of the sixth, the Eagles put the game away in the bottom of the inning. Holmberg had the big blow with his bases-clearing double. McLeod and Richie Cormier added RBI singles, while Sean Greear added a sacrifice fly.

Embry-Riddle pounded out 16 hits in the game. McLeod finished with three hits and two RBI, while Victor Roldan added three hits. Embry-Riddle has tied its best Series finish from a year ago as it can do no worse than third place.

The Eagles? David Timm pitched the first six innings to pick up the winning, scattering the five hits and two runs. He struck out three and walked three.

Garry Savas, Matt Imwalle and Cameron Clarke had two hits apiece for OCU, which averaged better than 11 runs a game in its first three Series outings. OCU trailed 12-2 before scoring three times in the ninth inning.