LCSC rolls past Corban twice, 4-1 and 9-0


4-28-07
 

SALEM, Ore. -- Beau Mills hit two home runs, but the Lewis-Clark State College pitching staff stole the spotlight as the Warriors swept Corban College 4-1 and 9-0 on Saturday afternoon to move within one victory of wrapping up the top seed in the Region I Tournament. 

The Warriors, the top-ranked team in the NAIA, pushed their win streak to 16 games to stand 44-3 overall, which is the  best start in program history. LCSC also has only one loss against Region I teams and a victory over the University of British Columbia during their three-game series next Tuesday-Thursday at Harris Field will wrap up the top seed in the region. LCSC's seeding for the region tournament is based on its winning percentage against the remaining Region I teams. Because UBC and Albertson have four losses, both can only tie the Warriors for the top seed. The region tournament will be played at UBC or Albertson, depending on which team finishes higher in the Region I standings. 

On Saturday, sophomore right-hander Matt Fitts (7-0) handcuffed Corban, 12-31-1, in the opener. The transfer from Long Beach State University went the full seven innings and allowed just five hits and one run. He struck out six and didn't allow a walk. 

Not to be outdone, three LCSC pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout in the nine-inning nightcap. Chris Schwinden (3-1) allowed two hits in five innings and struck out three. Brian Parker allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out four in his two innings. Will Morgan allowed a hit and struck out two in his two innings. It was the seventh shutout posted this season by the Warrior staff. 

Mills, LCSC's junior third baseman and a candidate for the NAIA Player of the Year, had his 24-game hitting streak snapped in the opener, which is the fifth longest in program history and just six short of tying the record of 30 set by Justin Fuller in 2004. Mills, however, bounced back in the second game to smack two home runs and drive in three runs. Mills now has 27 home runs on the season, which leaves him three shy of tying Jim O'Dell's program best of 30 in 1983. 

Mills, who leads the NAIA in home runs and R BI, now had 91 RBI on the season, which is third on the LCSC all-time single-season list. O'Dell drove in 136 in 1983, while Montie Phillips had 115 in 1987. 

LCSC senior catcher Jessie Mier also hit two home runs Saturday, one in each game, to double his home run total to four this season. 

In the opening game, LCSC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Kyle Melton doubled, Mark Thompson was hit by a pitch, and Ryan Wholey singled to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Melton to score. 

After Corban tied the game in the bottom of the third, the Warriors struck for their final three runs in the sixth. After two fly outs, Mier hit a solo home run and Jake Wyatt was hit by a pitch. After Kyle Greene drew a walk, both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Travis Georgius then singled up the middle to score both. 

Mier collected two of LCSC's five hits in the game as Corban pitcher Jordan Emery also pitched well. He went the distance and gave up three earned runs. He also walked two and struck out one. 

The second game also was a pitcher's duel before LCSC finally got on the scoreboard with solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings on RBI singles by Melton and Isaac Simmons, respectively. 

Mills and Mier gave LCSC some breathing room in the seventh inning when they hit back-to-back solo home runs. An RBI double by Ryan Anderson drove in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-0. 

The Warriors put the finishing touches on in the ninth when Wholey walked and Mills followed with a two-run home run to right field. Mier was then hit by a pitch, Greene walked, and Simmons singled to load the bases. Paul Martin and Anderson followed with consecutive run-scoring singles to make it 9-0. 

Mills finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and three run scored. Simmons went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Anderson was 2-for-3 with two RBI. 

Thompson stole a base in the game to give him 31 for the season, which is fifth on LCSC's single season list. Mike Lester set the all-time record with 42 in 1975. 

The Warriors have six regular-season contests remaining before tournament play. After the UBC series, LCSC will play host to Linfield next Saturday and Sunday, and then travel to Pullman to face Washington State on May 8 to finish the regular season.