McNiven Hurls UBC to LCSC Tournament Title

LEWISTON,ID--Brooks McNiven pitched eight strong innings to lead the University of British Columbia to their second straight victory over Lewis-Clark State College, 5-4, to win the Lewis-Clark State College Tournament title, Sunday afternoon, at Harris Field.

McNiven (4-0) scattered four hits, struck out four, and gave up one unearned run in those eight innings for British Columbia (12-7), who have now won eight games in a row. Conor Whitely struggled to close the door, giving up three runs, all unearned, while serving up three hits. Mark Dunstan went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring one run. For the tournament, Dunstan batted .636 (7-11) with a double, three RBI, and five runs scored.

The Thunderbirds got on the board first on a bases loaded walk to Shawn Anderson in the bottom of the second. Waleed Elabed singled up the middle, in the bottom of the fourth, plating two runs off of LCSC starter Tim Petke (3-2). Mark Zamojc added an RBI single later in the inning to put UBC ahead, 4-0.

Nick Bullen singled up the middle, scoring Paul Gallegos to put Lewis-Clark State (15-6) on the board in the top of the fifth.

Chad Tuck hit a two-out double for the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the eighth off of L-C reliever Kyle Correa. The next batter, Mark Kittleson, swapped places with Tuck, hitting an RBI double to right center, plating courtesy runner Chris Ames.

The Warriors scratched for three runs in the ninth, but that wasn’t enough. Emerson Frostad led LCSC, going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Zamojc, for UBC, batted .529 (9-17) for the tournament with one double, two home runs, and 12 RBI.

Box score vs. British Columbia