LEWISTON, Idaho – The late 10:10 p.m. start to not phase the Lewis-Clark State Warriors when they began their journey at the 2019 Avista NAIA World Series. The Warriors, the visiting team as the No. 10 seed, came out bats blazing in the top of the first, striking for six runs on seven hits while batting around without recording an out to open the game.
 
Thomas Lampkin Jr. got things going early for LC with a leadoff bomb into the left field bleachers to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
 
"That's something you dream of," Lampkin Jr. said. "I've been thinking about having a good first at bat of the game. The fact that we could get that done, one through nine, that's pretty special."
 
A.J. Davis and Darren Trainor kept the hit parade going with back-to-back singles before a wild pitch put both in scoring position. Kyle Callahan provided the fourth-straight LC hit with an RBI single to right to grow the lead to 2-0.
 
Riley Way took a pitch off the arm to load the bases and a single through the left side brought in a pair as the Warriors continued to roll through the top of the first. Through the first six batters, LC scored four runs with no outs to force an FHU pitching change. Kody Garvin laid down a picture-perfect bunt for a base hit to reload the bases. Jacob Gribbin provided the seventh hit of the inning and Jeff Bart walked as both brought in a run.
 
Tyler Burch and the Warrior defense held FHU off the board in the bottom of the inning, then started their offense right up again when Callahan homered to open the second. The Warriors led 7-0 after two full innings.
 
Callahan launched his second long ball deep into the night in the top of the fourth to add to the Warriors' cushion and make it 8-0.
 
Freed-Hardeman came back to life in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run shot to cut the LC lead to five. They tacked on another in the fifth to bring the score to 8-4 in favor of the Warriors.
 
Tanner Simpson replaced Burch on the mound after six and a third. Burch finished his night with five strikeouts and three earned runs allowed.
 
The Lions continued to chip away at the LC lead in the bottom of the seventh with one more run, but key defensive plays by Garvin and Simpson shut down the rally to keep the Warriors in front 8-5.
 
After escaping a jam in the bottom of the eighth, the Warriors offense restarted in the top of the ninth. Needham and Garvin notched back-to-back singles with an error putting both in scoring position. Lampkin Jr. drew a walk to load the bases and send Davis to the plate for a clutch two-RBI single over the head of the first baseman. The Warriors carried a 10-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
 
Simpson tossed the final two and a third to shut down the Lions. He recorded two strikeouts and did not allow an earned run.
 
Callahan led the Warriors with a 5-for-5 performance at the plate including his two home runs and three RBI. His homers in back-to-back at-bats are the first in a Series game since 2012. Needham and Davis each tallied three hits and two RBI.
 
The Warriors nine-consecutive batters to reach base in the first inning set an Avista NAIA World Series record, and the four hits to start an inning and seven hits in the inning tied the record.
 
"We had seven hits (in the first inning), that just doesn't happen," coach Jake Taylor said.  "We were even willing to give up an out to move some guys but that obviously worked out in our favor.  Yeah, you can't expect a start like that."

The Warriors will face No. 2 Science & Arts (Okla.) tomorrow at 7 p.m.