LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 4 LC State cruised past No. 24 British Columbia to win its second straight Cascade Conference tournament title on Sunday. The Warriors went undefeated in the 2026 Cascade Conference Baseball Championship, presented by U.S. Bank, with the help of a massive day at the plate for
Bryce Johnson. LC State dominated the contest with a final score of 12-2 behind Johnson's four hits and four RBI.
With the conference regular season and tournament titles under their belts, the Warriors now turn their attention to the 2026 NAIA Baseball Opening Round, presented by Avista, at Harris Field May 11-14.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kason O'Neil struck out a pair in the top of the first and LC State jumped in front in the home half of the inning.
Brandon Nguyen and
Jackson Jaha each walked and a base hit by Johnson loaded the bases. A single to left off the bat of
Jackson Reed drove in two and
Sam Weber made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.
UBC tallied a run in the top of the third but LC State erased it with one in the home half of the frame.
Izzy Madariaga was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a hit by Johnson. A flyout moved both into scoring position and Weber notched his second RBI with a productive groundout. LC State led 4-1 through three innings.
The Warriors added on with a two-run bottom of the fifth, all with two outs. Johnson was hit by a pitch and Reed singled and took second on the throw. A wild pitch plated Johnson and Weber notched his third RBI to make it 6-1.
Joey Estrada gave up a run in the sixth on a wild pitch before a diving play by Madariaga ended the inning.
Smith, Nguyen, Jaha and Madariaga opened a Warrior rally in the LC State half of the sixth with four straight hits and Johnson busted the game open with a three-run home run for a 10-2 advantage.
The Warrior defense turned a double play to end the top of the eighth and Johnson continued his stellar day in the next half inning. Jaha walked and scored on a double down the left field line by Johnson, his fourth hit and fourth RBI of the contest, and more UBC miscues put Reed and Weber on to load the bases. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Prescott drove in a run for the 12-2 lead.
Zak Sullivan tossed the final two innings of the game and retired UBC in order in the ninth.
STAT RECAP
Johnson had one of his best games of the season with a 4-for-4 day at the plate and four RBI. Weber drove in three runs while Nguyen and Reed each tallied two hits.
O'Neil threw the first 4.2 innings and limited UBC to one run, and Estrada earned the win with his 2.1 innings. He struck out two and gave up an unearned run. Sullivan closed out the contest.
UP NEXT
LC State will host an NAIA Baseball Opening Round, presented by Avista, at Harris Field May 11-14. The tournament field will be announced on May 6.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
