Pitching helps Warriors roll to victories and title

 2-18-07

The Lewis-Clark State College pitching staff received a bit of a workout but responded with solid outings to help the Warriors capture the title in the Regence BlueShield of Idaho Tournament at Lewiston’s Harris Field on Sunday. 

With Matt Fitts and Brian Parker combining on a four-hitter, the Warriors blanked Albertson College 7-0, and then finished up the three-team round-robin tournament with eight pitchers combining on another four-hitter in an 8-2 win over Whitworth. In Sunday’s other game, Albertson defeated Whitworth 7-2. 

LCSC, the defending NAIA champion and ranked No. 1 in this year’s preseason poll, went 4-0 in the three-day tournament and outscored its two opponents 32-5. The tournament served as the season opener for the Warriors. 

Albertson finished 2-2 in tournament play and is 4-2 overall, while Whitworth went winless and is 0-4 on the season. 



(Dixon Allen throwing against Whitworth)

Against Albertson, Fitts allowed four hits and three walks during the first five innings, and struck out five. Parker retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced, including six by strikeouts. A hit batter and an error allowed the only two baserunners against Parker. 

Third baseman Beau Mills and catcher Jessie Mier had two hits and drove in two runs apiece to lead the Warriors’ 11-hit attack. 

The Warriors took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Mark Thompson singled and Jesse Roehl walked to set up a two-run double by Mills, who scored on a single by Mier. 

LCSC added three more in the fifth when Brent Wyatt walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Mier added an RBI double while Ikaika Lester had an RBI single.  Roehl added an RBI single in the sixth to finish LCSC’s scoring. 

Against Whitworth, the Warriors went with a pre-determined split of allowing each pitcher to throw one inning. The only exception was Chris Schwinden, who pitched the final two innings. All told, the eight pitchers gave up two walks and struck out six to go along with the four-hitter.  

Outfielder Mike Rivera hit a two-run home run to left field in the sixth innings for the only home run in the three-day tournament. The blast gave the Warriors a 7-1 advantage. 

LCSC put up three runs in the first inning when Isaac Simmons, Thompson and Zach Evangelho singled, the latter producing the game’s first run. Kyle Greene’s sacrifice fly and a wild pitch brought in the other two runs. 

Joey Briggs’ RBI groundout produced a run in the fourth, while Greene’s RBI single in the fifth made it 5-1. Greene also had an RBI single in the seventh to finish the scoring. Greene finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Simmons also had two hits.  Mitch Ramsey drove in a run and scored the other for Whitworth. 

In Albertson’s win over Whitworth, Casey Oliver went 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Jacob Garsez added three hits, and Garrett Schultz two RBI for the Coyotes.  J.J. Jones drove in both of Whitworth’s runs with a single in the second inning. 

LCSC resumes play in the four-team Guarding Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Tournament at Harris Field, starting Thursday. The four-day tournament features LCSC, St. Martin’s, Missouri Western, and Western Oregon.  St. Martin’s and Missouri Western kick off play Thursday at 11 a.m., followed by LCSC and Missouri Western at 2 p.m.
 

(Thirdbase man, Beau Mills, waiting for a Whitworth runner during the Warriors 8-2 win)