LEWISTON, Idaho – A four hit day from
Jonah Hultberg wasn't enough for the College of Idaho, as No. 19-ranked Lewis-Clark State used middle inning rallies in both games to sweep a doubleheader from the Yotes at Harris Field.
A 3-run fourth inning helped the Warriors (10-5, 5-2 NAIA West) to a 4-3 win in Game 1, with a 3-run fifth inning breaking a tie, as L-C won Game 2, 7-4.
LCSC built a 4-0 lead in the opener – including a key 2-out, 2-run single from Riley Way in the fifth. C of I (6-18, 2-5) plated a pair in the fifth, as a leadoff double from
Carter Vieira was followed by a Hultberg RBI and a
Ryan Nolan RBI groundout.
C of I threatened in the eight, as Hultberg singled, stole second and scored on a
Weston Miller single – but the Coyotes stranded the tying run on base.
Jesse Parker fanned eight batters in five innings for the Warriors, earning the win in relief, while
Connor Root was the tough-luck loser, tossing a complete game seven-hitter, striking out four.
Matthew Clay added a pair of hits for the Coyotes.
LCSC struck early in Game 2, as a Brock Ephan 2-run homer capped a 4-run third inning outburst, giving the Warriors the 4-0 edge. C of I used a 2-out rally in the fourth to cut the lead in half – scoring a run on an L-C fielding error and another on a Clay RBI single. An inning later, two additional mistakes by the Warriors tied the score – as
Austin Van Horne scored on a wild throw following a steal of third, with
Ben Hansen trotting home on a Hultberg RBI double.
LCSC had the answer, scoring three runs in the fifth that proved to be the difference. Ephan delivered a go-ahead RBI single, with the Warriors scoring runs off a sacrifice fly and a passed ball. C of I loaded the bases in the sixth, but Greg Blackman was summoned from the pen, retiring the final 11 men in order for a save.
L-C pitchers held the Yotes to just four hits – one each by Hultberg, Clay, Miller and Hansen.
Jared Bowman was effective out of the pen, tossing 2.2 shutout innings, with
Ben Tighe tossing a clean frame.
The two teams close out the series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. single-game.
