LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Connor Brogdon and Anthony Balderas combined on a five-hit shutout to help the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team defeat the NAIA"s No.2-ranked team Georgia Gwinnett for the second straight day, this time 3-0 on Friday.
 
The Warriors, ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, improved to 10-5 overall, while Georgia Gwinnett falls to 17-7 overall. LCSC also defeated Georgia Gwinnett 12-3 on Thursday.
 
After suffering a 13-9 setback to Madonna on Friday, LCSC used the arms of Brogdon and Balderas to get back on the winning track. Brogdon was outstanding in Friday's game as he allowed just five hits over eight innings. He also walked one, but struck out 14. The 14 strikeouts are the fifth highest total by an LC pitcher in a game in program history and the most since John Foster struck out 14 in the 1999 season.
           
Balderus added to the effort by retiring the side in order in the ninth inning. In all, the two LCSC pitchers only faced 31 batters in the contest and posted the team's first shutout of the season.
 
Brogdon improved to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.23 on the season. He struck out seven of the first 11 batters he faced and didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning on Marcus Moyle's one-out single to left.
 
The Warriors picked up the game's lone run in the early innings when Seaver Whalen led off the second inning with a single to left field. An out later, Depaul Blunt hit a 1-0 pitch down the left-field line for an RBI double.
 
LCSC made it 2-0 in the top of the fifth when Cooper Goldby reached on a fielder's choice with one out. Raymond Pedrina, who had a solid game at the plate, followed with a single to shallow left field and Chase Hafer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a strikeout, a passed ball allowed Goldby to score.
 
The Warriors made it 3-0 in the seventh. Pedrina, who finished the game 4-for-4 with four singles, led off the inning with a base hit up the middle. Chase Hafer was hit by a pitch and Whalen drew a two-out walk to load the bases. A wild pitch then allowed Pedrina to score.
 
Unfortunately, the Warrior did strike out 17 times in the game, which is the third-highest total in program history.
 
LCSC collected eight hits in the game, half of which were by Pedrina, who went 4-for-5. Whalen went 2-for-2 with a run scored.
 
The Warriors did leave 10 stranded on base.
 
LCSC will play two more games in Georgia, both against Indiana Tech. The two teams meet Saturday at noon, and then again Sunday at 7 a.m., both Pacific times.