LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 12 LC State hit two grand slams in the same game for the first time since 2021 as part of a doubleheader sweep of Bushnell (Ore.) to open the weekend series. The Warriors defeated the Beacons 16-8 in game one before a 15-3 win in seven innings in the nightcap.
The victories move the LC State record to 14-2 on the season and 6-2 in Cascade Conference play.
GAME ONE: No. 12 LC State def. Bushnell 16-8
Bushnell struck first with two runs on two hits in the top of the first inning. The Warriors matched the Beacons in the home half of the frame after
Sam Weber doubled to start the LC State offense before back-to-back singles by
Jackson Jaha and
Bryce Johnson drove in a pair.
The Beacons continued with their momentum in the top of the second inning with three runs on four hits including three straight RBI singles. The Warriors put together a five-run frame in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead.
An error put
Anthony Karagiannopoulos on base and
Izzy Madariaga and
Bulla Ephan notched consecutive doubles to bring the Warriors within one. An error brought in a run to tie the game and allow
Brandon Nguyen to reach. Jaha and Johnson each reached with free passes, and
Jackson Reed knocked in two with a base hit to center to make it a 7-5 lead.
After a scoreless third, Bushnell added a run in the top of the fourth on a pair of hits. Weber opened the home half of the fourth with a double off the wall in right center and Jaha walked to put two on. A sacrifice fly by Johnson drove in the first run of the frame before a base hit by Reed and free pass to Karagiannopoulos loaded the bases. Madariaga doubled to knock in two and another scored on a groundout by Ephan to grow the lead to 11-6.
Bushnell chipped away at the deficit with a run in the fifth, but
Kason O'Neil got the Warriors out of a bases-loaded jam to limit the damage.
LC State plated three runs in the bottom of the inning. Weber singled and Jaha walked, and three runs came in with back-to-back doubles by Johnson and Reed for a 14-7 advantage.
After a Beacon run on a solo shot in the eighth, the Warrior lead grew to 16-8 with an RBI single by Madariaga. O'Neil closed out the contest in a scoreless ninth.
STAT RECAP
Weber tallied four hits in the contest while Reed and Madariaga each had three. Johnson and Madariaga each drove in four runs and Reed had three RBI.
O'Neil earned his third win on the mound with three strikeouts in the final six innings.
Evan Canfield tossed the first three innings and did not walk a batter. He gave up six runs.
GAME TWO:
Landon Webb tossed a scoreless top of the first, but the Beacons struck for two runs on three hits in the second.
Nguyen put the Warriors in front with one swing in the home half of the inning. Reed doubled to start the offense and O'Neil, fresh off his win on the mound in game one, walked to put two on.
Kooper Jones drew a walk and Nguyen stepped to the plate with two outs and promptly crushed a grand slam over the wall in right center for a 4-2 lead.
Bushnell added a run in the top of the third, but the second grand slam in as many innings for LC State busted the game open. Jaha, Johnson and Reed all singled to load the bases for O'Neil's blast to right center.
Madariaga walked to keep the inning going and an error put Nguyen on base. A hit by Weber brought in a run and a base hit by Jaha with an error on the play cleared the bases and put Jaha on third. A passed ball brought a run across with Johnson reaching on the walk to grow the LC State lead to 12-3 through three innings.
Jaha singled before walks to Johnson and Reed loaded the bases for the Warriors in the bottom of the fifth. O'Neil drove a ball to deep and just missed his second grand slam, but a sacrifice fly brought in a run. Johnson scored on a wild pitch for a 14-3 lead.
Levi Anderson struck out the side in his first inning of work in the top of the sixth.
An error on a ball hit by Nguyen led to another run for LC State in the bottom of the frame.
Payton Smith walked and another error on a ball hit by Jaha made it 15-3.
STAT RECAP
Jaha led the game with four hits to go with three RBI. O'Neil drove in five runs and Nguyen knocked in four.
Webb earned his second win of the season after five innings of work. Anderson allowed just one hit with three strikeouts in the final two frames.
UP NEXT
The Warriors wrap up the series with Bushnell on Sunday with a single game set for 11 a.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
