CALDWELL, Idaho – A four-run ninth inning broke open a close game, as No. 8 ranked Lewis-Clark State took Game 1 of a four-game weekend series with the College of Idaho, winning 8-1 at Wolfe Field.
The Warriors (11-7, 4-2 NAIA West) got a big two-run single from Evan Douglas in the final inning to pull away from the Coyotes – as C of I went just 1-for-11 with runners on bases and hit into a pair of inning-ending double plays.
LCSC broke a scoreless tie in the third, as Cooper Goldby singled and courtesy runner Chase Hafer stole second – eventually scoring on an Emilio Alcantar ground out. Seaver Whalen doubled with two outs and scored on a J.J. Robinson single to extend the lead to 2-0.
Coyotes (13-13, 6-3) starter
Zach Draper put up zeroes until the seventh, when Logan Griffin and Gunnar Buhner roped back-to-back doubles – helping the Warriors extend the lead to 4-0.
C of I got a run back in the bottom of the inning off starter Kevin Hamann, as
Hunter Hanson doubled and scored when L-C centerfielder Raymond Pedrina over ran a single by
Dalton Ridgway. However, Hamann got a ground out and fly out to end the threat.
The Warriors put the game out of reach in the ninth, as Alcantar and Micah Brown had RBI singles and Douglas singled home two with two-outs to cap the scoring
Hamann worked around six hits and struck out five for the win, with Henry McAree retiring 6-of-7 batters to log the save. Whalen, Robinson, Brown and Griffin all had two hits for LCSC.
Draper was solid, going seven strong innings for the Yotes allowing just four runs on nine hits, striking out six. Hanson and
Cole Mansanarez each had two hits for C of I – Mansanarez extending a hit-streak to nine games and
Bobby Wright adding a single to stretch his hitting streak to eight games.
The middle games of the series are set for tomorrow afternoon, with the twinbill set for a 1 p.m. first-pitch.
