Brian Ward’s RBI single over the left-fielder’s head drove in Travis Georgius from second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team capture a wild and sloppy 12-11 win over Dixie State at LCSC’s Harris Field on Saturday afternoon. 

LCSC, now 14-2 overall after its eighth straight win, battled back from a 5-0 first-inning deficit and eventually took an 11-9 lead into the ninth inning, but couldn’t close the deal as Dixie State scored twice. 

The Warriors, however, picked up the winning run when Georgius pinch-hit with two outs and drew a walk. He then moved to second on a wild pitch. Ward then rocketed a shot over the left-fielder’s head that easily would have gone for extra bases, but the game ended when Georgius touched home plate. 

The contest featured 25 hits, six errors, six doubles and two home runs, both by Dixie State, including a grand slam from Frans Meyer in the top of the first inning off Warrior ace Matt Fitts. 

Despite being out-hit 14-11, the Warriors made the most of opportunities, and they needed to because LCSC’s defense wasn’t sharp and its first four pitchers also struggled. Michael Guerrero, who came on in the ninth to record a strikeout, wound up picking up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. 

Fitts, who entered the contest 3-0, was rocked for six hits, six runs, and three walks in just 2.1 innings. He also struck out three. Matt Stabelfeld allowed three hits and two runs, and also gave up three walks in his three-inning stint, while Ryan Woods allowed two hits, two walks and a run, but did strike out five in 2.1 innings. Brian Bird gave up three hits and the two runs in the ninth inning. 

LCSC came from behind twice in the ballgame. Dixie State used Meyer’s grand slam for a 5-0 lead, but LCSC scored four times in the bottom of the inning to trail 5-4 after the first. Brent Wyatt and Josh Ashenbrenner started the rally with singles and Kyle Greene was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ikaika Lester drew a bases-loaded walk, and Sean Halton followed with an RBI single. Ward then grounded into a potential double play, but the relay throw to first was wide of the bag and the error allowed two runs to score. 

After Blake Michelson homered to start the third inning for the Rebels, LCSC scored three times in the bottom of the inning to grab a 7-6 lead. Ashenbrenner started the rally with a single and Greene followed with a walk. Halton smacked a two-run double to left-center field and went to third on a throwing error. He then scored on Ward’s sacrifice fly to center. 

LCSC made it 8-6 in the fourth when Mike Rivera singled and went to third on a double by Wyatt. Ashenbrenner’s sacrifice fly to right scored Rivera. 

Dixie State tied the game in the sixth inning with help from LCSC’s defense when Stabelfeld couldn’t handle an underhand throw from Greene while covering first on a grounder.  

The Rebels then took a 9-8 lead in the top of the seventh when Jimmy Dever singled and later scored on a single by Kyle Pratt. 

LCSC put up three runs in the bottom of the seventh for an 11-9 lead. Paul Martin doubled and Ashenbrenner followed with a single. A throwing error on the play allowed Martin to score and Ashenbrenner to take second. Greene then doubled in Ashenbrenner and later moved to third on a wild pitch. A ground out by Lester brought in Greene. 

Bird entered the ninth for LCSC and seemed to have things in hand with a ground out and a strikeout. Brett Adams then doubled and scored on a single by Pratt. Mark Rose followed with a double to score Pratt and tie the game, but Rose was left stranded on second base.  That was the story line for Dixie State as it stranded 12 runners in the game, compared to five for LCSC. 

Despite the six errors, 20 of the 23 runs were still earned. 

Ward and Halton finished with three RBI apiece, while Lester added two. Ashenbrenner had three hits, while Wyatt and Halton added two.  

Meyer had four RBI for Dixie State, now 10-8 overall, while Adams had four hits and Pratt three. 

The two teams wrap up the three-game series with a noon contest on Sunday.