LEWISTON, Idaho – It was clear from the start that Tyler Burch brought his A-game to Harris Field on Friday night in Lewis-Clark State baseball's 9-1 win over the College of Idaho. With the best pitching performance all season, the senior went the distance while only giving up one hit and one walk in the process. He helped himself out with a pair of defensive gems and eight punch outs. The offense took care of any pressure that may have been on the righty, striking for nine runs throughout the course of the game.
 
"It started with the first throw that I had playing catch," Burch said. "It was just from the moment I got to the ballpark that it was going to be a good day. I took it one pitch at a time and really focused in times that I needed to, and that helped me a lot."
 
The Warriors were held hitless until breaking things open in the bottom of the third. A.J. Davis sparked a two-out rally with a single before Darren Trainor walked. Zach Needham hit a hard shot off of the first base bag to bring in the first run of the game. Riley Way doubled to keep the inning going, bringing in two to give LC an early 3-0 lead.
 
LC did even more damage in the fourth when the Warriors added four runs to their total. Kody Garvin and Dalton Duarte drew back-to-back walks to open the inning, and three-straight doubles by Thomas Lampkin Jr., Davis and Trainor brought in four.
 
The Yotes got their first run on the board in the top of the fifth on a hit and an error. Burch settled in and continued to cruise through the next few innings. He helped his own cause with two impressive plays on the mound, making one stop behind his back and another in a near diving play.
 
Goldby reached in his second plate appearance via a hit-by-pitch to begin to bottom of the eighth. Lampkin Jr. launched a ball into the left field bleachers to grow the lead to a commanding 9-1, and Davis continued his hot streak with a single up the middle.
 
Burch retired the Yotes in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth before closing out the game in the ninth.
 
The only run he surrendered was unearned. He was efficient, working with catcher Trainor to complete all nine innings in only 109 pitches.
 
"He (Trainor) was awesome," Burch said. "We had great synergy and he called a great game. He was with me from the first pitch to the last pitch."
 
On the offensive side of the contest, Davis led the Warriors with four hits. Lampkin Jr. notched two hits, a double and a home run, and led LC with three RBI.
 
"The offense helps," Burch said. "We kept a great energy and good vibes on and off the field. It helped a lot.
 
"I was talking with Coach Taylor in the dugout before the game and it got brought up that this could be my last home start of my career, and it was pretty surreal. I felt like I went out with a bang."
 
The Warriors continue the series against the College of Idaho tomorrow in a doubleheader at Harris Field.