LEWISTON, Idaho – LC State got off to a shaky start, but a shut-out performance by the bullpen and more big hits by the offense helped the No. 6 Warriors to their 27^th conference victory of the season. The Warriors swept the eight-game season series against College of Idaho, and out-homered the Yotes 21-1.
 
The Warrior bullpen combined for 8.1 scoreless innings and seven strikeouts to give LC State the chance to get back in the game after four-run first inning by the Yotes.
 
Five different Warriors went yard in Sunday's 11-4 win over C of I, including Brock Ephan's 15^th homer of the season. The big fly today gives him 30 in his career, which puts him ninth in the LC State record books.
 
"After a shaky start, our bullpen threw 8.1 innings of shut-out baseball," Head Coach Jake Taylor said. "Offensively, we did our damage with two outs consistently throughout the game. It was a great way to finish the series with C of I."
 
Similar to the first game of the series, the Yotes opened the game with multiple first-inning runs. C of I struck for four off starter Bryson Spagnuolo, ending his day after two outs. Joe Ball came on to end the inning and limit the damage.
 
LC State answered with three in the home half of the inning with back-to-back home runs. Dillon Plew reached on a walk before Ephan cranked a ball over the wall in center for a two-run blast. Aidan Nagle came to the plate next and sent on to deep right-center to cut the deficit to 4-3.
 
Ball got the first two outs of the second before handing things over to Jacob Bogacz for a strikeout to end the top of the inning. He recorded two more in the third before Matt Driver came on in relief in the fourth. He struck out two in his two innings.
 
Cameron Smith had the ball in the top of the sixth and struck out a batter in the sixth straight scoreless inning for the LC State defense.
 
The Warriors took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a timely hit by Sam Linscott. Plew and Ephan reached on back-to-back walks before another free pass to Matt James loaded the bases with two outs. Linscott lined a ball in to left to plate a pair and put LC State up 5-4.
 
LC State added some insurance runs in the seventh on two outs. Two straight doubles by Plew and Ephan brought in one before a single by Nagle brought in pinch runner Alex Light. A two-run bomb by White was immediately followed by a solo shot by Zach Threlfall to cap to the five-run inning and grow the Warrior lead to 10-4.
 
After a quick 1-2-3 top of the eighth from Tallon Thomason, the Warriors bats got back to work. Jack Johnson homered on the first pitch he saw to begin the inning and make it an 11-4 game.
 
Jesse Parker wrapped up the game on the mound and struck out a batter.
 
Nagle and Davis led the Warrior offense with three hits each, while Ephan drove in two runs. Plew and Ephan each had a pair of hits and Nagle, White and Linscott all knocked in two. Plew scored three times.
 
The Warrior bullpen pitched 8.2 scoreless innings, starting with an inning from Ball. Bogacz fanned three in his 1.1 innings, Driver struck out two in two innings, and threw a solid inning with a punchout. He earned the victory.
 
Thomason threw two innings without allowing a hit and Parker closed out the game.
 
Prior to the start of the game, LC State recognized the nine seniors on this season's roster. This year's class includes: Zach Needham, Johnson, Plew, Driver, Dalton Harum, Thomason, Parker, Ephan and Efrain Del Rio.
 
 
The Warriors wrap up the regular season next weekend at Eastern Oregon before returning home to host the Cascade Conference tournament on May 8 and 9. Information on tickets will be released later this week.
 
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.