Fitts fires three-hitter to help Warriors blank Concordia 4-0

4-11-08

PORTLAND, ORE. – Lewis-Clark State College junior Matt Fitts fired a three-hitter and struck out nine to help the Warriors to their fourth straight win, a 4-0 shutout of Concordia University on Friday. 

The right-handed Fitts looked like the ace of the Warrior staff as he dominated the contest. He allowed one walk and faced just 32 batters in the contest. All three of Concordia’s hits were singles. 

It’s the fifth time LCSC has shut out an opponent this year and the fifth complete game by a Warrior pitcher. Fitts, 7-0 on the season, has thrown two complete games and came up with his third solid outing in his last four appearances. 

Concordia, 11-15 overall, only had two baserunners reach as far as second in the contest and only one got as far as third. 

The Warriors, 33-4 overall and ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, managed 11 hits in the contest, but had a hard time coming up with the clutch hits to break the game open. 

Concordia starter Ben Rue pitched six innings and allowed six hits and two runs. Zac Manor pitched the final three innings and allowed five hits and two runs. 

The Warriors broke on top 2-0 in the third inning. Josh Ashenbrenner opened the inning with a walk, but was forced out at second on a grounder by Chris Valencia. Nic Benton then doubled Valencia to third, and an infield single by Brent Wyatt loaded the bases. After Paul Martin’s grounder forced Valencia out at home, Kyle Greene drew a walk to force in a run and Brian Ward followed with an RBI single. 

The Warriors scored their other two runs in the seventh when Wyatt drew a one-walk walk and scored on Martin’s two-run home run to left-center field. It was Martin’s third home run of the season. 

Friday’s game was the first of a three-game series. The two teams meet again on Saturday and Sunday with both starting times at 1 p.m.