LEWISTON, Idaho –
Jonah Hultberg had a 3-hit day and
Tanner Leaf ripped a 3-run double, but The College of Idaho could not overcome five home runs by the Lewis-Clark State offense in an 11-4 loss at Harris Field.
The Coyotes (19-28, 11-21 CCC) took a 4-0 first inning lead, but the No. 6-ranked Warriors took the lead in the sixth inning and broke the game open in the final two frames.
Hultberg led off the game with a single and
Austin Van Horne was hit by a pitch.
Matthew Clay dropped down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown down the right field line to score Hultberg for a 1-0 lead. C of I would load the bases with two outs, with Leaf lining a pitch into the left field corner, clearing the bags, giving the Yotes the big early lead.
LC answered with back-to-back homers in the bottom of the inning, as Brock Ephan hit a 2-run shot and Aidan Nagle added a solo blast to cut the margin to 4-3.
Van Horne would handcuff the Warrior attack until the sixth, when LCSC loaded the bases with two outs and Sam Linscott lined a 2-run single to give the hosts a 5-4 lead.
The Warriors would break the game open in the seventh, as RBI doubles from Ephan and Nagle were followed by home runs from Luke White and Zach Threlfall, to put the score out of reach.
Hultberg went 3-for-4 and
Ben Hansen went 2-for-4 in the loss for the Coyotes, while A.J. Davis and Nagle each had three hits in the win for LCSC.
C of I closes out the 2021 season next weekend with a 4-game road series at Simpson University.
