LEWISTON, ID – No. 5 LC State bounced back in a big way on Saturday after Friday night’s loss to (RV) British Columbia. The Warriors run-ruled the Thunderbirds in both halves of a doubleheader with scores of 15-4 (7 innings) and 12-2 (8 innings).
The victories improved the LC State record to 28-4 overall and 20-4 in Cascade Conference play. The Warriors hold a one-game lead over UBC heading into Sunday’s series finale.
GAME ONE: No. 5 LC State def. (RV) UBC 15-4 (7 innings)
UBC struck first with a run in the top of the first, but the Warriors responded loudly in the home half of the inning.
Brandon Nguyen led off the seven-run inning with a single before the Warriors rattled off six straight one-out hits. Knocks by Izzy Madariaga, Bryce Johnson, Noah Weintraub, Sam Weber, Spencer Zeller and Kooper Jones had the lead at 5-1. A fielder’s choice by Payton Smith put him on base and a double steal brought Zeller across. Nguyen, batting for the second time in the frame, drove in the seventh run for a 7-1 advantage.
Kason O’Neil took over on the mound for injured Landon Webb and worked a scoreless second inning.
The Warriors added on the bottom of the second after a walk to Madariaga and base hit by Weintraub put two on. Zeller and Jones notched back-to-back singles to drive in the pair for a 9-1 lead.
Jackson Jaha walked in the third and scored on a double by Madariaga. Johnson made it 11-1 with a hit through the right side.
LC State turned a pair of double plays to avoid UBC rallies in the fourth and fifth, and the Warriors scored three more in the bottom of the fifth.
Nguyen led off the home half of the fifth with a home run to right. Jaha walked before Johnson destroyed a ball that nearly cleared the bleachers in left to grow the advantage to 14-1.
O’Neil worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth and hits by Smith and Danner Salisbury added a run for a 15-1 lead.
The Thunderbirds struck for three runs in the top of the seventh, but Joseph Perez came out of the bullpen to close out the contest.
STAT RECAP
Johnson led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance with four RBI, and Nguyen and Weintraub also went 3-for-4. Jones tallied two hits and drove in three runs.
O’Neil earned his fourth win of the season after five innings of work with three strikeouts.
GAME TWO: No. 5 LC State def. (RV) UBC 12-2 (8 innings)
Madariaga gave LC State an early lead with a solo shot in the bottom of the first and Mason Goodson worked a 1-2-3 top of the second to send the Warriors back to the plate.
LC State tacked on a pair in the second with four straight hits by Weintraub, Weber, Zeller and Bulla Ephan. A fielder’s choice put Smith on base and Nguyen walked to load the bases, and a walk to Jaha and sacrifice fly by Madariaga grew the lead to 5-0.
UBC tallied two runs on two hits in the top of the fourth before a strikeout by Goodson got the Warriors out of a bases-loaded jam. Jordan Lennartson took over on the mound in the fifth and held the Thunderbirds off the board through the seventh.
The Warriors added insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh with a 4-spot. Nguyen, Jaha and Madariaga walked to load the bases and a base hit by Johnson brought in one. Weintraub sent a sacrifice fly to center and another walk to Weber loaded the bases again. Cade Westerlund pinch hit and capitalized with an RBI-single through the left side, and Ephan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 9-2.
A double by Jaha brought Nguyen around to score after a leadoff walk. UBC struggled with control as walks to Madariaga and Weintraub loaded the bases, and another free pass to Weber brought in a run. Westerlund worked a walk to end the game via the run rule.
STAT RECAP
Weintraub went 3-for-3 at the plate while Jaha, Madariaga, Zeller and Westerlund each drove in two runs.
Lennartson earned his second win of the season with four innings of relief. Both Goodson and Lennartson fanned three batters in their four innings and allowed a combined four hits.
