LEWISTON, Idaho – Noah Weintraub drove in six runs on Saturday to help lead No. 5 LC State Baseball to a doubleheader sweep of Warner Pacific (Ore.) to clinch the weekend Cascade Conference series. The Warriors ended the first game in eight innings by a final of 15-5 before an 8-4 victory in the second game of the day.
The wins move the LC State record to 37-7 on the season and 29-7 in Cascade Conference play.
GAME ONE: No. 5 LC State def. WPU 15-5 (8 innings)
LC State turned a double play in the top of the first to help
Mason Goodson face the minimum, then the Warriors batted around to put up five runs in the bottom of the frame.
The first seven Warriors to the plate reached base, including six hits, and a sacrifice fly by
Payton Smith capped the five-run inning.
Warner Pacific got two runs back in the next half inning with the help of pitching miscues and added two more in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-4.
A pair of extra-base hits in the bottom of the fourth stretched the LC State lead to 6-4.
Noah Weintraub doubled with two outs and
Izzy Madariaga tripled off the wall in right to drive in the run.
Sam Weber turned a line shot to third into a double play to end the top of the fifth, but a solo shot by Jarrod Seibel made it a one-run game again in the sixth.
Smith was hit by a pitch in the Warrior half of the sixth and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Weintraub dropped a two-out double over the head of the first baseman to push the margin to 7-5.
LC State added six runs in the bottom of the seventh on four hits and an error.
Spencer Zeller walked before back-to-back singles by
Kooper Jones and Prescott. Free passes to
Cayden Wotipka, Nguyen and Weintraub brought in a pair and a sacrifice fly by Madariaga made it 11-5.
Jordan Justice took advantage of a pinch-hit opportunity and tripled off the wall in center to plate two for a 13-5 lead after seven innings.
The Warriors closed out the contest early with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Zeller walked and Jones singled before a walk to Prescott loaded the bases.
Zane Bidwell stepped to the plate to pinch hit and hit a walk-off double to left. The first two runs that came in enacted the 10-run rule to end the game.
STAT RECAP
Weintraub led the offense with three RBI on three hits and Jones also notched three hits.
Goodson went the first four innings and gave up four runs. Logan Tyler worked 1.2 innings of relief and was awarded the win with three strikeouts and one run allowed.
Joey Estrada threw the final 2.1 frames and earned the save with one hit given up.
GAME TWO: No. 5 LC State def. WPU 8-4
Warner Pacific struck first with two runs in the first half inning, but the Warriors got one back in the bottom of the second. Prescott led off the home half of the frame with a triple and scored on a base hit by
Cade Westerlund.
LC State put up five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Zeller led off the inning with a double and Westerlund walked. A sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position before a single by Nguyen drove in a run.
Jackson Jaha walked to load the bases and Madariaga put the Warriors in front with a two-RBI double. Weintraub made it a 6-3 contest with a two-run home run to left.
Smith and Jaha each legged out infield singles to put runners on the corners and a groundout by Madariaga scored Smith. Weintraub lined a single to center for an 8-3 advantage.
WPU's Anthony Zisa sent a solo home run to left to cut the difference to 8-4 in the top of the eighth, and a double play by the defense aided a scoreless ninth inning for
Jackson Cloud on the mound.
STAT RECAP
Madariaga and Weintraub each drove in three runs in the contest while Jaha and Weintraub each had two hits.
Kason O'Neil worked three innings and gave up three runs.
Zak Sullivan earned the win with five frames of one-run baseball and five strikeouts, and Cloud was awarded the save.
UP NEXT
LC State closes out the regular season on Sunday with a single game against Warner Pacific at Harris Field. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
