Warriors open series by defeating UBC 6-3

04-25-08

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Lewis-Clark State College pitching staff finally gave up its first earned run in 57 innings, but junior Matt Fitts enjoyed another solid outing on Friday as the Warriors presented coach Ed Cheff with his 1,600th win with a 6-3 triumph over the University of British Columbia at Nat Bailey Field. 

The Warriors stretched their win streak to 12 behind their right-handed ace, who allowed only four hits and two runs through seven innings. Fitts also struck out eight and walked two to improve to 9-0 on the season. 

UBC, 22-19 overall, ended LCSC's streak of consecutive innings without giving up an earned run in the bottom of the first inning. The streak dated back to the eighth inning of an 18-10 win over Concordia on April 12. Since that time, LCSC set an NAIA record with 51 consecutive scoreless innings pitched before Corban scored unearned run in a loss last Saturday. 

The Warriors, 41-4 and ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, used a three-run seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and improve to 6-0 against Thunderbirds this season. In the process, the Warriors gave Cheff his 1,600th win in his 32nd season at the Warrior helm. Cheff now holds a 1,600-407-2 record at LCSC and his teams have won 15 NAIA national championships. 

In Friday's contest, the two teams exchanged runs in the first inning. Brent Wyatt singled to open the game for LCSC and went to second on a wild pitch. He later scored on a two-out single by Brian Ward. 

UBC countered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Matt Chester hit a one-out double and later scored on a two-out single by Ryan Pilgrim. 

The two teams exchanged runs again in the sixth inning. Kyle Greene opened the top of the inning with a walk and later scored on an error, while UBC used two singles and a hit batter to load the bases with no outs. Fitts, however, only gave up one run on a fielder's choice grounder. 

LCSC took control of the game with a three-run seventh. Mike Rivera started the rally with a single and Wyatt was hit by a pitch. Paul Martin reached on an error, which allowed Rivera to score to make it 3-2. Greene and Ward then added RBI singles to push the lead to 5-2. 

The Warriors made it 6-2 in the eighth when Rivera hit a one-out single off former Warrior Ashton Florko, and Mickey Pingree followed with a single. Wyatt later drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. 

Blaine Hardy replaced Fitts in the eighth inning, but ran into trouble when an error and a single started the inning. Eventually, UBC picked up a run on a sacrifice fly, but left the bases loaded. 

Four Warriors - Wyatt, Greene, Ward and Rivera - had two hits apiece and combined for eight of LCSC's 11 hits. Ward also drove in two runs, while Wyatt and Rivera each scored twice. 

The two teams meet again on Saturday in a noon doubleheader, and then wrap up the four-game series with a single game on Sunday, also at noon.