LEWISTON, Idaho – The Warrior offense wasted no time flexing its power in Saturday's elimination game against second-seeded Georgia Gwinnett. Third-seeded LC State exploded for nine runs in the first inning to give
Mason Goodson plenty of room to work on the mound. The starter was nearly untouchable in his outing with one run allowed on three hits. LC State run-ruled GGC 12-1 in seven innings to end the Grizzlies' season.
Brandon Nguyen drove in three runs in the first frame with a home run and triple. The nine first-inning runs tie the LC State record for most runs in a Series inning, also done in 1987 and 1992.
The Warriors are now 5-2 against GGC all-time. Saturday's contest marked the first postseason meeting between the two powerhouse programs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
LC State put up nine runs in the bottom of the first inning on five extra-base hits to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Nguyen homered to center to start the frame and Jaha doubled on the next pitch.
Izzy Madariaga was hit by a pitch before hits by
Bryce Johnson and
Jackson Reed made it 3-0.
A fielding error on a ball hit by
Sam Weber plated a run and
Cade Westerlund walked to force a pitching change for the Grizzlies. A wild pitch brought one run in and Nguyen tripled to drive in two as the lineup turned over. Back-to-back hits by Jaha and Madariaga capped the scoring at nine runs in an inning that saw 13 batters at the plate.
Goodson used a double play to get out of the top of the second and struck out two in the third to keep GGC off the board.
The Grizzlies threatened with two on in the top of the fourth, but another double play by Jaha, Madariaga and Weber got the Warriors out of a jam. Madariaga,
Payton Smith and Weber turned another to end the top of the fifth.
A solo shot by GGC's Chris Tillery put the Grizzlies on the board in the sixth, but a leadoff homer by Madariaga matched the run in the home half of the frame. Johnson and Reed each singled and both scored on a double by
Ryan Prescott for a 12-1 advantage.
Goodson slammed the door in the top of the seventh to end the game.
STAT RECAP
Nguyen drove in three runs, all in the first inning, and Jaha recorded three hits. Nguyen, Jaha, Madariaga, Johnson and Reed, the top five in the Warrior lineup, all had multi-hit games.
Goodson was electric in his complete game. He fanned six in seven innings with one run on three hits. The defense behind him turned three double plays and did not commit an error.
UP NEXT
The Warriors face top-seeded Taylor (Ind.) on Monday at 11 a.m. in an elimination game.
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