LEWISTON, Idaho – The 2021 postseason run came to an end with an 8-5 loss to second-seeded Central Methodist (Mo.) on Wednesday night at Harris Field. The Eagles capitalized on a three-run seventh inning to take the lead while starter Nick Merkel shut down the LC offense after four runs in the first two innings.
 
The Warriors end their 2021 campaign with a record of 44-6.
 
"We competed hard today and just came up short," Head Coach Jake Taylor said. "The program as a whole is filled with first-class individuals that endured the past season with resiliency, max effort and togetherness. This is a special, special group of young men and as a staff we were proud to be along for this ride."
 
Matt Driver gave the Warriors a great start in the first inning, striking out the side to send LC State back to the dugout. Brock Ephan put the Warriors in front in a loud way in the bottom of the inning.
 
LC State nearly batted around in the inning, sending eight to the plate. Jack Johnson got the inning going with a single to left before Dillon Plew walked with one out. Ephan drilled is 0-1 pitch over the batter's eye in dead center to give the Warriors the lead.
 
After struggles early in the inning, Driver settled in and let the defense do the work. CMU struck for a run in the inning to cut the LC lead to 3-1 in the second.
 
Plew drove in Johnson in the bottom of the second after Johnson reached on a fielder's choice. He advanced to second and third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on the ball hit by Plew. The Warriors led 4-1 through two.
 
A.J. Davis got his work in at second with the first two outs of the third inning. After the Eagles plated a run, Driver shut the inning down with a punch out. The starter got one out in the fourth before walking a batter and was lifted for Brooks Juhasz. The Eagles tied things up with a two-run blast.
 
An error by LC State in the top of the sixth opened the door for CMU, but Tallon Thomason and a diving catch by Johnson shut it to get the Warriors out unscathed. The Eagles regained their momentum and took the lead on four straight hits in the seventh. Greg Blackman came in and struck out two batters, but the damage was done with LC trailing 7-4.
 
CMU added on in the eighth to pull ahead by four and solidify its lead before ending the game.
 
Driver made his first start of the season and tossed three and a third innings with four strikeouts. Jesse Parker made an appearance in relief and threw a scoreless inning and a third. Brooks Juhasz, Thomason and Blackman also made appearances in the game.
 
Johnson led the offense with a pair of hits and Ephan drove in three runs on his home run in the first inning.
 
The Warriors played their most successful season under Taylor with a winning percentage of .880. LC State captured the first-ever Cascade Conference, with Ephan being named the conference Player of the Year and Taylor the Coach of the Year.
 
"The seniors that are leaving us this year are going to move on and be tremendously successful in all facets of their life," Taylor said. "Hopefully, when they put some distance on this loss, they will realize the remarkable season that we just put together. We couldn't be more proud of them and are thankful for their incredible contributions to the program, the college and the community."
 
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