#1 LCSC Downs #13 Albertson, 7-6, in 11 innings

LEWISTON,ID--Mark Gallagher’s RBI double in the 11th powered top-ranked Lewis-Clark State College to a 7-6 win over arch-rival and 13th-ranked Albertson College, in the first round of the Paffile Trucking Tournament, Friday night, at Harris Field.

Lewis-Clark State (5-2) struggled with the bats as Albertson College (3-2-1) starter Nick Willams went seven innings, scattering five hits, and giving up two runs. Warrior starter Andy Torres struggled through 6.2 innings, giving up nine hits, five runs, three of which were earned, and yielded his first and only walk of the season.

Matt Morgan got L-C on the board with a solo home run, his fourth, to right center in the bottom of the first. Albertson countered in the top of the second with three runs, all coming off of a blast from shortstop Patrick Gonzalez, his first of the season.

The Coyotes tacked on two more runs in the sixth to take what would seem to be an insurmountable lead with the way Williams was keeping the Warrior batters confused. But Albertson coach Shawn Humberger pulled Williams after throwing seven complete innings, tossing 99 pitches. He turned the ball over to former LCSC pitcher, Chris Rennaker, who walked the first batter he saw. After getting first baseman Zeph Zinsman to foul out to the catcher, pinch hitter Tory Haven blasted a two run shot to right center, his third home run of the season and second pinch hit homer, cutting the lead down to 5-4. Andrew Hall came in relief of Rennaker and walked Gabe Stajduhar, the second batter he faced. Ryan then cae to the plate and ripped a triple into the gap in left center past a diving Cory Acklus. Micah Furtado, who was the courtesy runner for Stajduhar at first, scored on the play to tie the game at five all. Eric Jensen (0-1) then came on and was greeted by a single, deep in the hole at short, by Nick Bullen, plating Ryan, giving L-C a 6-5 lead.

In the top of the ninth, L-C reliever Nick Seely (1-0) gave up a one out solo blast to center by Coyote third baseman Todd Howell, tying the game at six. The Warriors went one-two-three in the home half on the ninth.

The Paffile Trucking Tournament contiunes on Saturday with three games: Albertson vs. Linfield, at 10:00 AM; LCSC vs. Eastern Oregon, at 12:30 PM; and, LCSC vs. Linfield, at 3:00 PM.

Final scores from the other two games played on Friday were: Albertson 4, Eastern Oregon 1; and Eastern Oregon 5, Linfield College 4.

Box score vs. Albertson