GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Lewis-Clark State College Baseball team continued its offensive onslaught on Friday with 34 hits, including six home runs in the opener, to sweep a doubleheader from Arizona Christian University 16-4 and 13-4.
 
The sweep wrapped up an eight-game road trip to California and Arizona to start the season for LC, ranked No. 24 in the NAIA preseason poll. The Warriors came away with a 7-1 mark, including a 4-1 record against NAIA Top 25 teams. Arizona Christian saw its four-game win streak snapped and fell to 11-6 overall.
 
Friday's two games were a bit of a contrast for the Warrior offense. LC pounded out 19 hits in the opener, including nine for extra bases. In the second game, LC collected 15 hits with six doubles and the rest singles.
 
Junior outfielder Aidan Nagle had a nice day at the plate. He collected four hits, including two home runs, and also drove in seven runs. A.J. Davis drove in four runs, while Dillon Plew and Matt James collected three RBI apiece as the Warriors concluded the trip hitting nearly .350 as a team with 20 home runs in eight games.
 
"The trip south was a success and we were grateful for the opportunity to travel and compete," Head Coach Jake Taylor said. "Offensively we had production from our entire lineup in both games."
 
GAME ONE: LC State def. ACU 16-4
In the opener, the Nagle got the Warriors rolling early with a grand slam in the top of the first. Riley Way was hit by a pitch, while Plew and Dalton Harum followed with singles to load the bases. After a strikeout, Nagle took junior right-hander Chase Martinez's 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence.
 
The Warriors put up three runs in the third when, for the second time this season, they went back-to-back-to-back with three consecutive solo home runs. Brock Ephan started the power fest with a shot to left field, his first homer of the season, and Nagle followed with another home run to right, his fourth of the year. James added a solo blast to left.
 
After Arizona Christian scored in the bottom of the third to cut the margin to 7-3, the Warriors chased Martinez in the fifth when Sam Linscott and Zach Needham drew walks on four straight pitches. With one out, reliever Spencer Davis walked Way to load the bases and Plew followed with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Linscott.
 
The Firestorm added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but two more home runs in the Warrior seventh helped the Warriors to a six-run inning and break the contest open. A.J. Davis smacked his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, while Linscott added a solo home run.  James doubled in two more, while Harum added an RBI double. Linscott, in his second plate appearance of the inning, grounded out to drive in another run to make it 15-4.
 
LC added its final run on an RBI double by Ephan.
 
Eric Chavarria picked up the win to go to 1-0 on the season. He allowed 10 hits and four runs over six innings with four strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO: LC State def. ACU 13-4
In the second game, the Warriors scored in the first on an error and added five runs apiece in the second and fourth innings for an 11-1 lead. Plew had a two-run single to highlight the second inning, while Davis added an RBI double and Harum a run-scoring single. In the fourth, Way singled in two while Nagle and Zach Threlfall each doubled in a run. Luke White added an RBI single. White finished the game 4-for-6 with two doubles and an RBI
 
The Warriors picked up a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Davis and added their final run on a sacrifice fly by Nagle in the ninth.
 
Sophomore right-hander Trent Sellers picked up the win in the second contest. He allowed five hits and one earned run over five innings with seven strikeouts.
 
LC State is now off from competition for two weeks. The Warriors next scheduled contest is a Feb. 27 doubleheader against Oregon Tech to kick off Cascade Collegiate Conference play. The two teams meet at noon at Harris Field.