MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Lewis-Clark State College's baseball doubleheader against Corban on Friday had to be moved to Linfield College from Salem, Ore., but it might as well been held at Lewiston High School. 

Three former Bengals, Tyler Knigge, Nick Masters, and Kyle Greene, all had huge days to help the top-ranked Warriors roll past Corban 8-6 and 18-1 on Friday. LCSC is now 20-2 on the season and has won its last 14 straight games. 

LCSC will look to make it 15 on Saturday when the two teams conclude the three-game series with a single game at noon, also set for Linfield. Corban is 5-10 overall. 

Knigge, who was being redshirted to save his freshman year of eligibility until next season, became an active member of the team earlier this week with the Warrior pitching staff hit with injuries. The freshman made the most of his first outing in the LCSC uniform when he checked Corban on just two hits through six innings of the second game. He also walked two and struck out five. 

In the first game, Masters came on in relief of LCSC ace Matt Fitts, who was roughed up for the second straight game. With LCSC holding an 8-6 lead entering the bottom of the sixth, Masters faced the minimum 12 batters in the final four innings. He did hit a batter in the seventh inning, but then picked him off. Masters then retired the final seven batters he faced to earn his first save of the season. 

Greene, a senior who like Masters played his first two years at Walla Walla Community College after leaving LHS, had six hits on the day as the Warriors pounded out 27 hits in the two contests. Greene also had four doubles and four of LCSC's seven extra-base hits. 

For the day, Greene went 6-for-9 with four runs scored and four RBI. 

In the opener, Masters, a junior right-hander, enjoyed his best outing of the season. He struck out two in just his second relief appearance of the season. 

Despite improving to 4-0, Fitts was far from sharp. He entered the bottom of the third with a 7-0 lead, but gave up five runs on four hits. He also hit two batters, including one with the bases loaded, issued a walk, and had a throwing error. Two of the four hits in the inning were infield singles with the bases loaded. 

Fitts then gave up a solo run in the fourth, again putting himself in trouble in each inning. He hit the leadoff batter to start the fourth and then a balk put the runner in scoring position. An error allowed the run to score.

Fitts went five innings and allowed six hits and six runs, four of which were earned, along with one walk and three hits batters. He did strike out seven. 

LCSC, as it did with its three game sweep of College of Idaho earlier in the week, did its damage early. The Warriors scored three runs in the first when Brent Wyatt walked and Paul Martin followed with a single. With one out, Greene doubled in Wyatt. Sean Halton struck out, but the catcher couldn’t hold onto the pitch, and then overthrew first base, which allowed both Martin and Greene to score. 

In the second, two walks and a single by Nic Benton loaded the bases with two outs. Greene singled to left to drive in two runs, and Halton and Ikaika Lester followed with run-scoring singles to make it 7-0

The Warriors picked up their final run in the top of the fourth when Josh Ashenbrenner walked and went to third on Greene’s second double of the game. A wild pitch allowed Ashenbrenner to score. 

Corban starter Jordan Emery gave up 10 hits and eight runs, six of which were earned, in six innings. He struck out five and walked five. Josh Warner gave up one hit and one walk in the final three innings.

Greene finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead LCSC, while Halton added two hits. The two combined for six of LCSC’s 11 hits in the game.  

In the second contest, the Warriors broke on top 2-0 in the first inning. Martin started the rally with a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Ashenbrenner grounded out to second to score Martin. Greene then doubled and went to third when Brian Ward singled. Benton then ran for Ward and the Warriors put on a double steal. Benton was able to draw a throw, which allowed Greene to break for home and the return throw to home was not in time to get Greene. 

LCSC added four runs in the fifth for a 6-0 lead. A walk to Ashenbrenner and Greene’s fourth double set up a three-run home run by Ward, his third of the season. Armando Reyes was hit by a pitch and went to third on a wild pitch. He eventually scored when Travis Georgius grounded out to short. 

LCSC then took advantage of spotty Corban pitching to turn the contest into a blowout. The Warriors scored five runs in the seventh inning without a hit. Mickey Pingree, Mike Rivera, Wyatt, and Chris Lum all walked with the bases loaded, while Martin forced in a run when he was hit by a pitch. In all, the Warriors took advantage of six walks and two hit batters in the frame. 

LCSC put up five more runs in the eighth, again helped by walks, for a 16-0 lead. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, and Thomas Lees' grounder brought in the first run. A wild pitch brought in the second run, while Zach Adam was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Another fielder's choice, this time by Lum, drove in a run, while a wild pitch allowed the final run to score. 

In the ninth, LCSC made it 18-0 when Wyatt drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, while Brian Bollwitt added an RBI single. 

Corban picked up its only run in the ninth with a single and a double, which accounted for half of its hits in the game.