LCSC wins a wild one over Azusa Pacific 14-11

5-16-07

AZUSA, Calif. - Ikaika Lester's three-run double highlighted a five-run seventh inning to help the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team defeat Azusa Pacific University 14-11 in the opening game of the West Coast Super Regional on Wednesday night. 

The best-of-three series continues on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. with Game 2. If necessary, a third game will be played on Friday night. 

The series matches the top two teams in the NAIA, but means little other than bragging rights and seeding into the 51st annual Avista NAIA World Series, which will be played at LCSC's Harris Field on May 25-June 1. Both teams already are assured a berth in the Series, but because LCSC is the host team for the World Series, it can't be seeded higher than third. That means if APU can defeat the Warriors in the next two games, the Cougars would, in all probability, be the top seed in the World Series. 

Both teams, however, will be looking for better pitching performances after having their aces roughed up on Wednesday. APU's Jonny Bravo entered the game 11-0 with a 3.07 ERA but was touched for 12 hits and eight runs in sixth innings. LCSC junior right-hander Chris Kissock entered at 11-1 with a 1.87 ERA but gave up 11 hits and seven runs in 4.1 innings. 

In all, the two teams combined for 34 hits, including four home runs. 

The Warriors, 52-4, touched Bravo for seven runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run by Beau Mills, his school-record 32nd of the season. APU, now 49-7, however, fought back against Kissock and used five runs in the third and two more in the fifth to tie the game at 7. 

The two teams exchanged one more run before LCSC was able to score five runs in the seventh and hang on for the win. 

In the LCSC seventh, two walks set up an RBI double by Paul Martin. After Mills was intentionally walked to load the bases, Jessie Mier followed with an RBI single, and then Lester hit his three-run double down the left-field line.  

The two teams exchanged runs in the eight before the Cougars scored twice in the ninth to make it interesting. APU had the tying run at the plate with runners on first and second when LCSC closer Brian Parker came in and struck out Stephen Gillette to earn the save. It was Parker's eighth save of the year, which allowed him to tie the LCSC single-season save record set by Mark Wooden set his mark in 1986. 

Lester, who came back just last week from an injury, finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored as he also had a solo home run in the sixth inning. Mills went 1-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Mark Thompson went 2-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Paul Martin was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two run scored. Brent Wyatt was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. 

In the LCSC second, two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases. A balk allowed the first run to score, while Thompson hit a two-run double. After Brent Wyatt's RBI single, Mills hit a monster shot to left field to make it 7-0. 

Reliever Will Morgan didn't have one of his better outings, but still picked up the win. He went 4.1 innings and allowed six hits and four runs. He also struck out four, walked four and hit two batters. 

LCSC left 12 runners stranded on base, while APU left 14.