KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – No. 12 LC State Baseball opened up a four-game series with Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls on Friday and swept the first twin bill of the weekend by scores of 15-6 and 14-3. The Warriors notched 31 hits in the doubleheader, led by six from
Jackson Jaha and five by
Izzy Madariaga.
The victories improve the LC State record to 16-3 overall and 8-3 in CCC action.
GAME ONE: No. 12 LC State def. OIT 15-6
The Warriors took advantage of Oregon Tech pitching miscues in the top of the first. Jaha singled with two outs before two hit batters and three straight walks put LC State in front 3-0.
Four hits by the Owls erased the Warrior lead with a three-run bottom of the first for OIT, but singles by
Bryce Johnson and
Jackson Reed had LC State back in front in the top of the second. Oregon Tech threatened with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, by a double play got the Warriors out of a jam with the lead intact.
Evan Canfield struck out two in the home half of the third and LC State added to its advantage in the top of the fourth.
Jaha singled to put a runner on, and Johnson lined a ball over the wall in center for a two-run home run. The Warriors plated a pair in the fifth after
Cade Westerlund led off the frame with a base hit.
Payton Smith tripled to plate a run, and an RBI single by Jaha made it an 8-3 lead.
Oregon Tech chipped away at the difference in the bottom of the fifth with three hits, including a two-run home run, to shrink the LC State lead to 8-6.
The Warriors added a run in the sixth with back-to-back hits by
Izzy Madariaga and Westerlund, and
Joey Estrada worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning on the mound. Three straight singles by
Bulla Ephan, Jaha and Johnson plated a run in the seventh for a 10-6 cushion.
LC State blew the game open with a five-run eighth inning. Smith singled and
Brandon Nguyen was hit by a pitch to put the first two runners on, then an error on a sacrifice bunt by Ephan brought in a run. Jaha tripled and scored on an error to clear the bases, and Reed was hit by a pitch to keep the inning going.
Anthony Karagiannopoulos hit a single to left and an error plated Reed to make it 15-6.
Jordan Lennartson worked a scoreless eighth and ninth.
STAT RECAP
Jaha had a monster game at the plate with a 5-for-6 performance with four RBI and three runs scored. Johnson went 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.
Canfield earned his third win of the season after five innings of work. He struck out six, Estrada worked a spotless inning and Lennartson earned the save with two strikeouts and no runs allowed in two frames.
GAME TWO: No. 12 LC State def. OIT 14-3 (8 innings)
LC State took an early lead after base hits by
Kooper Jones and Madariaga, paired with an OIT error to put the Warriors on the board in the second inning. The Owls responded with three runs on four hits in the home half of the frame to jump in front.
Landon Webb settled in over the next few innings and LC State took control of the game in the fourth frame.
Jackson Reed started the offense with a single before
Kason O'Neil drew a walk. Three straight hits by Jones, Madariaga and
Ryan Prescott brought in four runs for a 5-3 advantage.
Levi Anderson took over on the mound in the bottom of the sixth and struck out two batters, and LC State added three runs in the seventh. Jaha walked and was lifted for pinch runner
Sam Weber. After a groundout and a stolen base, a fielder's choice plated Weber and allowed Reed to reach. O'Neil kept the inning going with a single and a sacrifice fly brought in Reed. O'Neil came around to score on an error to make it an 8-3 lead.
The Warriors added on in the eighth to end the game early. Smith walked to lead off the frame before a hit by Jaha and OIT errors brought in two runs.
Cayden Wotipka, Jones and Madariaga earned free passes and a hit by Prescott drove in two.
Spencer Zeller sent a double down the right field line to make it 14-3.
Jackson Cloud closed out the contest with a quick bottom of the eighth.
STAT RECAP
Madariaga led the offense with a 3-for-4 game at the plate and Prescott drove in three runs.
Webb earned his third win of the season with four strikeouts in five innings, while Anderson and Cloud tossed a scoreless three innings.
UP NEXT
LC State wraps up the four-games series at Oregon Tech on Sunday with a doubleheader at 11 a.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
