L-C stings Concordia again; Kooken provides game-winning hit in opener; Warriors then take nightcap, run streak to 14
Copyright The Trib

It was no home run, but it was just as effective.

 A night after Jessie Mier drilled a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Lewis-Clark State to a win over Concordia, D.J. Kooken came through with his own version of the clutch hit to elevate the Warriors past the Cavaliers. With the bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Kooken knocked a single into right field to give the Warriors a 7-6 triumph in the first game of a doubleheader at Harris Field on Friday.

In the nightcap, the Warriors made sure there would be no need for any late-inning heroics, drilling the Portland club 14-9.

With the back-to-back victories, the Warriors -- winners of 14 straight -- improve to 25-3.

"I knew their pitcher was trying to get ahead with a fastball," Kooken said, "so I just tried to get a good swing and get a line drive. And it got through."

Kooken's hit came off reliever Billy Burbank, who took the mound after the Warriors knotted the score at 6-all with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth.

And similar to his first outing against the Warriors -- when he gave up Mier's homer -- Burbank's relief effort lasted only one pitch.

He tossed a fastball right down the heart of the plate that Kooken -- who drove in three RBI -- knew was coming.

"I knew it was the same pitcher as last night," Kooken said, "so I kind of had it in the back of my mind."

After the game, Concordia coach Rob Vance told Burbank to put these last two games out of his mind.

"He's a little shell-shocked right now," Vance said. "Obviously he made the wrong pitch at the wrong time, but we always tell him that as a relief pitcher, you've got to be like a defensive back (in football). You've got to have a real short memory because there's going to be another chance."

But the Cavaliers didn't get any satisfaction out of the second game. They outhit the Warriors, but still dropped their fourth game in as many outings against L-C this year.

The main reason can be traced to the fact the Concordia pitching staff walked 10 batters and plunked eight, providing L-C ample scoring opportunities.

"The pitching breakdown was probably a lack of concentration," Vance said. "When you walk one or two guys and then hit one or two more, things start to tighten up."

The Warriors and Cavaliers will try to stay as loose as possible today when they wrap up their four-game series with a contest at noon.

And given the way the first couple of games have gone, it might come down to the final pitch. But L-C coach Ed Cheff feels the close calls will ensure his team will be ready.

"I think you've got to have those types of games," Cheff said. "You don't necessarily like to be in that position. But on the other hand you do, in terms of having to compete. It's good for us."