LEWISTON, Idaho – Nick Seamons went 4-for-4 and scored four runs that included the game winner on a walk-off walk by Jack Sheward in Lewiston. The No. 8 Warriors defeated College of Idaho 8-7 to take the first game of the four-game series.
The win improved the Warrior record to 20-9 on the season and 10-3 in Cascade Conference play. The victory also kept LC State undefeated at Harris Field with a 9-0 record.
It was the first four-hit game for Seamons this season. Dominic Signorelli went 2-for-4 with a double and home run and collected four RBI on the day.
The two teams combined for 10 runs in the first two innings before both pitching staffs settled in.
"Great effort out of the bullpen tonight from Jantzen Lucas and Cameron Smith that allowed our offense to do just enough to scratch out a competitive home win," coach Jake Taylor said.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Drake George struck out two in the first half of the first inning, the Warrior offense opened things up in the bottom half.
Carter Booth led off with a walk, Seamons doubled and Booth scored on a wild throw by right fielder Dillon Danner. With Seamons at second, Signorelli traded him places with an RBI double. Brandon Cabrera worked a walk and after a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, Charlie Updegrave hit one off the center field wall to score two and push the LC lead to 4-0. All nine Warriors had a plate appearance.
The Yotes wasted no time in answering back as all nine C of I players went to the plate in a five-run second inning. College of Idaho was assisted by four walks by George in an inning that was capped off with a three-run home run by Jordan Kelly.
Seamons recorded his second double in as many innings with one out in the second inning. The redshirt senior later scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at five.
Jantzen Lucas replaced George in the third inning. The Priest River native did not allow a baserunner in his first four innings of work.
In the fifth inning Seamons hit a single and Signorelli deposited his CCC-leading 12th home run of the season over the right-center wall. The long ball gave LC State a 7-5 lead.
Lucas got into trouble in the seventh inning. Catcher Matthew Iwamizu led off with a single. Macy pinch ran for the catcher and advanced to third with the help of two wild pitches. The two wild pitches and a walk to Trevor Watkins ended the day for Lucas. Cameron Smith entered in a small jam.
Kelly cut the lead to one with a single that scored Macy and Alex McFarland-Smith singled to load the bases. Cameron Smith was able to get Darren Smith chasing for the second out of the inning, but a passed ball evened the score at seven.
After a rocky opening inning, Nick Eliason settled down and ate up seven innings for the Yotes. Eliason gave up seven runs on eight hits and three walks as he threw 122 pitches.
Seamons reached for the fifth time with a one-out walk in bottom of the ninth. Cabrera walked and Updegrave was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sheward took ball four on a full count pitch from Jackson Cummins to score Seamons for the win.
Smith pitched the final three innings, struckout four and gave up three hits without allowing a run to improve to 3-0 on the season. Cummins suffered the loss to drop his record to 1-3.
There were 13 combined walks in the game, six for LC State and seven for College of Idaho. Both teams left five on base. Warrior pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.
Kelly went 2-for-4 and collected four RBI for the Yotes. Iwamizu added two hits in the game.
UP NEXT
The four-game Cascade Conference series against College of Idaho continues at Harris Field with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon.
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