Ward, pitching staff help LCSC defeat College of Idaho 10-2

4-9-08

Brian Ward drove in four runs and three Lewis-Clark State College pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Warriors defeated College of Idaho 10-2 on Wednesday to sweep a three-game series from the Coyotes at Lewiston’s Harris Field. 

With the win, the Warriors are 32-4 on the season, including a 10-1 mark against the College of Idaho. This was the last regular-season meeting between the two, but they could play again in the Region I Tournament. 

Unlike Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep, LCSC took control of Wednesday’s contest from the start and never looked back. LCSC scored three runs in the first, two apiece in the third and fourth, and three more in the sixth to cruise to the win. 

Ward, LCSC’s junior catcher from Huntington Beach, Calif., went 1-for-1 at the plate, but still drove in the four runs. His three-run double in the first inning provided all the support the Warrior pitching staff needed on the day. 

Entering Wednesday, the Warrior pitching staff had been a bit shaky of late as it had allowed 36 runs in LCSC’s last five games. Freshman Tyler Knigge (shown above), a right-hander from Lewiston, gave LCSC a solid start Wednesday. He pitched five innings and allowed three hits and one run. He did walk six, but struck out five to improve to 2-0 on the season. Dustin Willis and Matt Stabelfeld each pitched two innings. Willis allowed a hit and two walks, along with a run, while Stabelfeld went allowed one hit and struck out three. 

The Warriors took advantage of opportunities at the plate as they collected nine hits and took advantage of nine walks, a hit batter, and two Coyote errors. 

Kyle Greene, who was named the NAIA’s national Player of the Week earlier in the day, started a two-out rally in the first when he walked. Sean Halton followed with a walk and Ikaika Lester reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Ward then ripped a three-run double to left-center field. 

LCSC made it 5-0 in the third when a walk to Ward was sandwiched with singles by Halton and Josh Ashenbrenner to load the bases with one out in the third. Chris Valencia then drew a walk to force in a run, while Nic Benton added a sacrifice fly. 

After College of Idaho scored in the top of the fourth, the Warriors made it 7-1 in the bottom of the inning. Greene opened the inning with a walk and Halton and Lester were hit by pitches to load the bases with no outs. Ward followed with sacrifice fly to left and Valencia added an RBI sacrifice fly. 

The Coyotes scored a run in the top of the sixth, but LCSC answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Zach Adam opened the frame with a walk and a single by Lester and a walk to Ward again loaded the bases for LCSC. Ashenbrenner lined a two-run double to right, and Justin Speer added a sacrifice fly RBI. 

In all, LCSC scored four runs on sacrifice flies. 

Ashenbrenner finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Halton went 1-for-1 with three runs scored. For only the third time in 23 games, Greene was held hitless as he went 0-for-2, but walked twice and scored twice. 

Brian Champ led College of Idaho, 15-19, with two hits and an RBI. 

The Warriors hit the road to face Concordia University in Portland, Ore., for a three-game series. The first game is Friday at 3 p.m., followed by games at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Earlier Wednesday, the Warriors fell out of the top spot in the NAIA poll after losing a pair of games on the road to Dixie State last week. Lubbock Christian University received 20 of the 21 first place votes and stand at 35-1 on the season. LCSC is No. 2, followed by Lee University and Azusa Pacific. Oklahoma City rounds out the top five.  It’s the first time since the 2005 season LCSC has not been ranked No. 1.