LEWISTON, Idaho – In the first meeting between the two teams in program history, No. 5 LC State showed how powerful its offense can be with a 29-2 victory over Bushnell University on Saturday. The Warriors crushed seven home runs behind a stellar start by
Trent Sellers to improve to 46-4 on the season and 17-3 in Cascade Conference play.
Bushnell got off to a hot start with a two-run shot in the top of the first. LC took advantage of a Bushnell error in the home half of the inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Warriors bats exploded for six runs in the second, all with two outs.
Nick Seamons got the rally started with a solo home run to right center, and
Pu'ukani De Sa and
Riley Way followed with back-to-back doubles.
Aidan Nagle homered to make it 5-2 game, and a base hit up the middle by
Sam Linscott kept things rolling.
Luke White drew a walk to bring
Justin Mazzone, the LC leader in doubles this season, to the plate and the senior added to his total with a two-RBI double off the wall in center. At the end of the second frame, the Warriors led 7-2.
De Sa reached on a fielder's choice and Way singled to keep the momentum going in the third. A walk to Nagle loaded the bases before back-to-back knocks by Linscott and White brought in a pair. Mazzone brought in a run with an RBI-groundout and
Zach Threlfall kept the inning alive with an RBI-single through the left side. LC held an 11-2 advantage through three.
Sellers, who struck out the side in the third, fanned two more in the fourth before fielding a chopper back to the mound to close out the frame.
De Sa and Way went back-to-back with base hits for the second time in the contest to set the stage for a three-run blast by Nagle. White added to the damage with a solo shot to give LC a firm 15-2 cushion.
The offense continued to add on in the fifth with another 10 runs.
A.J. Davis was hit by a pitch to start the stretch and Seamons walked. De Sa doubled to center to plate one before a three-run shot by
Coy Stout made it 19-2.
Joe Canty reached on an error and
Jaden Phillips walked, then a single off the bat of
Dominic Signorelli loaded the bases.
Charlie Updegrave launched his second grand slam of the season, and Seamons brought in
Matt James with a two-run shot for his second homer of the game.
Ky Yamamoto singled through the left side but was left stranded.
After an Updegrave double brought in one, Bushnell walked in two to cap the LC scoring at 29.
Harrison Grow struck out the side in order in the seventh to close out the game.
Way was 4-for-4 in the contest, and De Sa tallied three hits. Nagle and Updegrave each drove in five.
Sellers earned his 10th win of the season after striking out 10 in five innings.
Alec Holmes and Grow each threw a scoreless inning in relief.
The Warriors will host Senior Day in between games of Sunday's doubleheader. The twin bill is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
