Box Score LEWISTON, Idaho – For getting off to a start that would be hard to script any better for the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team, the storyline and the end could have used some editing.
 
Using a grand slam home run in the first inning to take the lead, the Warriors watched Freed-Hardeman battle back with five runs in the bottom of the inning and that was all of the scoring as the Lions captured a 5-4 victory at the Avista NAIA World Series at LCSC's Harris Field on Monday night.
 
The loss drops the Warriors, 39-12 on the season, into Tuesday's loser-out play where No. 6 seed LCSC will meet No. 8 seed Antelope Valley at 3 p.m. The two teams met four times in February in Lancaster, Calif., with LCSC winning the first two by a combined score of 23-5, while Antelope Valley took the final two by a combined 23-12 margin.
 
On Monday, the Warriors seemed to be ready to roll early as they put up four runs in the top of the first off Freed-Hardeman sophomore right-hander Jacob Sawyers, all with two outs. Cory Voss started the rally with a walk, Tyler McDowell was hit by a pitch, and Darren Trainer singled to load the bases. Kyle Callahan followed with a grand-slam home run, which was his 10^th homer of the season.
 
"I felt confident after the first two, got two quick outs, and then it got kind of shaky," Sawyers said of the first inning. "That's what happens when you get behind – you have to give them a pitch they can hit."
 
Freed-Hardeman, however, answered with five runs in the bottom of the first to gain a 5-4 advantage. Bryce Lester, Wes Brooks and Josh Sears all drew walks to load the bases. Aden Campbell followed with an RBI single, and De'Mikyle Holmes scored two more with a double, ending a short outing for LCSC starter Tyler Burch, who was charged with all five runs. Reliever Anthony Toribio entered and gave up a two-run single to Kaimana Ancog before a double play got LCSC out of the inning.
 
"That was really big time for us," Freed-Hardeman coach Jonathan Estes said. "For our offense to come back and make a statement after they just four runs was huge. It gave Jacob some confidence tonight because he knew his offense behind him is going to compete.
 
"We talk about it all the time. Hitters pick up pitchers and pitchers pick up hitters. It's a team game. When one person has a bad inning or bad at bat, someone else is there to pick them up. That's what we have been doing these last several days."
 
The game then took a 180-degree turn as both Sawyers and Toribio put up solid performances from the second inning on as both teams went scoreless.
 
Sawyers allowed seven hits over the next seven inning, but managed to get out of each jam. He allowed nine hits and the four earned runs in eight inning of work. He walked two and struck out seven.
 
"They (LC) were hitting well all night but my defense was competing," Sawyers said. "It was a great game all around. I'm just thankful I had a defense out there for me."
 
Toribio and Tanner Simpson matched Sawyers with goose eggs on the board. Toribio allowed six inning in six innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Simpson retired all six batters he faced.
 
LCSC threatened in the top of the ninth inning after Sawyers threw 117 pitches and was replaced by the team's closer, Beau Caviness. Joey Parente greeted Caviness with a single and A.J. Davis was hit by a pitch. After a fly out, Kasey Bailey grounder to second forced out Davis to leave runners on the corners. Voss then flew out to left to end the game.
 
Trainor finished with three of LCSC's 10 hits while Parente added two. Holmes and Ancog had two hits apiece for Freed-Hardeman.
 
Only six teams remain from the original 10-team field in the double-elimination tournament. For LC to win its fourth consecutive national title, and its 20^th overall, it will likely have to win four straight games.