LEWISTON,  Idaho –  Lewis-Clark State earned its ninth consecutive win, but it took an inning of unearned runs to accomplish the feat Saturday at Harris Field.  The Warriors defeated Corban University 6-5 in the first game of a four-game series.  The NAIA West series, moved to LC's home field because of playing conditions in Oregon, continues Sunday with a doubleheader at noon.  With the win LC upped its record to 21-5, and 11-1 in league play.  Corban, second place in the league, dropped to 19-13 overall, and 9-4.

LC scored four unearned runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.  After Riley Way was hit by a pitch to start the inning, the Corban Warriors retired the next two LC batters.  Cory Voss then walked, and Tyler McDowell followed with a grounder that was misplayed by Corban's first baseman, and Way and Luis Hildago, running for Voss, both scored.  McDowell ended up on third on the play, and scored on Darren Trainor's double.  Makana Victorine then followed with an RBI single.

Corban pulled to within one at 4-3 scoring twice in the fourth inning and a single run in the fifth.  In the bottom of the fifth, Trainor added an RBI single, and then scored on Max Draijer's ground out to give LC a 6-3 advantage.

Corban scored two runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly, and pinch-hitter Tanner Marsh's RBI single, and came to bat in the ninth down 6-5.  Lewis-Clark State brought in reliever Gage Burland to start the ninth, and Burland struck out the side.

Trainor and Victorine led LC with three hits each.  Ethan Bragg had four hits for Corban, who outhit LC 10-9.  Rian Bassett earned his third win of the season, going the first five innings, allowing three runs on five hits.  Matt Becker pitched three middle relief innings, also allowing five hits, but just two runs.