LEWISTON, Idaho – The No. 6 Warriors had to play catch up in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the College of Idaho Yotes, but a big day at the plate for Brock Ephan helped LC State push past a five-run deficit in the first inning. The senior launched two home runs in the game to aid the Warriors in the 13-9 victory.
Greg Blackman was solid in his relief appearance to earn the win in game 1. He followed a strong relief outing by Brooks Juhasz.
"Brooks did a pretty good job slowing their momentum early in the game," Head Coach Jake Taylor said. "Greg commanded three pitches and had his best outing of the year. Offensively, we had production from multiple guys throughout the lineup. Obviously, Brock had a special day."
The bats came alive for an eight-run second inning in game two. LC State tallied 15 hits in the 12-1 win that ended in seven innings due to the conference's run rule. Ephan added his third big fly of the day in the contest behind Alec Holmes' quality start.
"Alec gave us another good start before he turned it over to Cole (Susee), and then we closed with Efrain (Del Rio). Offensively we were able to have a big inning early that gave us a comfortable lead."
GAME 1: LC State def. College of Idaho 13-9
College of Idaho got to starter Trent Sellers quickly with five runs in the top of the first. Juhasz came on in relief to get LC out of the jam as the Yotes batted around in the inning.
Ephan put the Warriors on the board in the home half of the inning and cut into the C of I lead with a two-run blast. Jack Johnson singled to right to put a runner on before Ephan drilled a ball over the wall in left.
C of I added a run in the top of the third when a leadoff single scored on a fielder's choice. LC State responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs, starting with a leadoff triple off the bat of Dillon Plew. He came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Aidan Nagle. Ephan, on base via a walk, set Luke White up for a two-run shot of his own. The junior from Lewiston drove a ball into the stands in left on a 2-2 count with two outs to bring the Warriors within one at 6-5.
The Yotes widened the gap again in the fourth with three runs on four hits. Blackman came on in relief and struck out a batter, but the damage was done with C of I in front 9-5.
LC State cut the deficit to one run again in the bottom of the inning. A.J. Davis and Riley Way reached on back-to-back hit-by-pitches and Johnson walked to load the bases. Plew sent a sacrifice fly to plate a run before Ephan crushed his second two-run homer of the game to pull the Warriors within one at 9-8.
An error tied things up in the bottom of the seventh before a big shot by Plew put the Warriors in the driver's seat. Davis walked and Way reached on a fielder's choice before an errant throw on a ball hit by Johnson brought in a run and put two in scoring position. Plew demolished the first pitch he saw for a three-run bomb to put LC State ahead 12-9. Ephan and Nagle reached on back-to-back singles and Ephan scored on a fielder's choice to cap the scoring at 13-9.
Blackman struck out a pair before a popup to short ended the game to complete the LC State comeback.
Ephan led the team with three hits and four RBI with his pair of two-run homers. Johnson, Plew and Davis each had two hits and Plew also knocked in four.
Blackman earned the win after striking out six in 5.2 innings. He scattered just three hits and did not allow a run.
GAME 2: LC State def. College of Idaho 12-1 (7 innings)
After an uneventful first inning, the Warrior offense exploded for eight runs in the home half of the second. Ephan led off the inning with a base hit before Nagle crushed a moon shot to the batting cages in right to put up the first runs of the contest. White kept the momentum going with a single to left and Davis walked, then three straight singles by Way, Johnson and Plew brought in three. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch plated another before Johnson scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-0.
White and Sam Linscott opened the third inning with back-to-back singles before an RBI base hit by Way brought in a run. A solo shot by Plew made it a 10-0 game in the fourth.
Holmes continued his strong start with a strikeout in the top of the fifth. Cole Susee took over in the sixth and allowed a run on a hit and an error.
The Warriors picked up two more in the sixth with a pair of singles by Johnson and Plew, and a double by Ephan to bring in both.
Efrain Del Rio took the mound for the first time in over two years to close out the game. The senior, who had missed two seasons due to injury, threw a scoreless inning and struck out a batter for the final out of the game.
Plew and Ephan each had three hits in the game, bringing Ephan's total to six on the day. His four RBI brought that daily total to eight. Way knocked in three on his two hits, and Johnson and White each also had two-hit games.
Holmes was solid through his five innings to earn the win. He allowed just two hits and did not surrender a run. Susee and Del Rio each struck out one in their inning of work.
The Warriors continue the series against College of Idaho on Saturday at 3 p.m. With rain in the forecast, the schedule may change so stay tuned to social media and lcwarriors.com for updates.
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