LEWISTON, Idaho – Strong starting pitching in game one and a hot offense in game two helped secure two wins for No. 24 LC State Baseball on Sunday, completing the series sweep of the visiting Corban Warriors.
Eric Chavarria struck out 12 in his six innings of work in the 4-3 win in game one, and the Warrior bats lit up for 12 hits in the afternoon 12-2 (seven innings) victory.
"It's always nice to win four games in a weekend at home," Head Coach
Jake Taylor said. "It was great having fans in the seats. Once again, our pitching staff was able to suppress Corban's offense today. Offensively, we are in a bit of a rut but it was nice to show up with energy and intent in game two."
GAME ONE: LC State def. Corban 4-3
Corban scored the game's first run in the top of the first without recording a hit. A walk came back to haunt starter
Eric Chavarria when a passed ball allowed the runner to score.
A leadoff walk to
Aidan Nagle proved beneficial in helping the LC Warriors tie the ballgame.
Sam Linscott doubled to left center, advancing Nagle to third, and a sacrifice fly by
Zach Needham plated LC's first run.
Chavarria continued his strong outing, even after a 30-minute rain delay, and had 10 strikeouts through his first five innings.
LC State took the lead in the home half of the sixth.
Dalton Harum led off the inning with a walk and took second on bad pickoff attempt. A hit-by-pitch put
Sam Linscott on first and loaded the bases before
Luke White knocked in a run with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly.
Corban responded quickly with runs in the top of the seventh and the eighth to take the lead.
Greg Blackman allowed a run on three hits, and an unearned run came across with
Eli Shubert on the mound to put Corban up 3-2.
A two-run eighth inning put the LC Warriors back in front.
Dillon Plew came up with the bases loaded and dropped a ball into shallow center for a two-RBI double and a 4-3 LC State advantage.
Shubert struck out the side to end the game and earn his second win of the season.
Chavarria was electric on the mound and struck out 12 through his six innings. He allowed one hit and did not allow an earned run. Shubert fanned four in two innings.
Plew led the offense with three hits and two RBI. It was the second game of the series in which he knocked in the winning runs.
GAME TWO: LC State def. Corban 12-2 (seven innings)
LC State opened the game with six runs in the first two innings. A two-out, two-run home run by
Brock Ephan gave the LC Warriors a 2-0 lead in the first before a four-run second busted the game open.
Linscott and
Jaden Phillips drew walks to start the inning and a single by
Zach Threlfall loaded the bases. A single by
Riley Way plated a pair and a walk to Plew loaded them once more.
Jack Johnson grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in a run and a double steal by Johnson and Way made it 6-0.
The LC Warriors added on with one in the fourth.
Alex Light ripped the first hit of his career into left and scored on a double by high school teammate Way. LC State led 7-0 after four.
Corban cut into the LC lead with a pair of run on two hits in the top of the fifth off reliever
Bryson Spagnuolo.
Luke White responded for the Warriors in navy and red with a three-run blast to push grow the advantage to 10-2. Johnson led off the inning with a single and a stolen base before Ephan walked to put two on for White. He crushed the first pitch he saw into the left field bleachers.
Lucas Gregory took over on the mound in the sixth and struck out a pair in a scoreless half inning. He struck out two more, both looking in the seventh.
LC State ended the game early via the seven-inning run rule.
Coy Stout notched his first hit as a Warrior to start the offense. Linscott singled before Phillips drew a walk to load the bases, and a sacrifice fly by Threlfall brought in Stout. Light walked to reload the bases and an RBI-single by Way brought in the game-ending run.
Holmes earned his third win of the season after not allowing a run in 3.2 innings of the shortened game. She struck out two and allowed just one hit. Lucas struck out four in his two innings and did not allow a hit.
Way went 4-for-4 in game two with four RBI and two runs scored to lead the LC offense. Ephan and Linscott each also scored twice and White had three RBI.
The Warriors will take a week off before heading to Caldwell for a four-game set against College of Idaho. Game one of the series is set for March 19 at 5 p.m. PT.
Stay up to date all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
