Lester's big bat helps LCSC sweep twinbill from OIT

05-03-08

 

Ikaika Lester (shown left) hit a game-winning home run  in the first inning and added a grand slam in the second contest to help the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Oregon Tech 2-1 and 11-3 at LCSC's Harris Field on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Warriors needed eight innings to win the scheduled seven-inning opener and stretched their win streak to 17 games by rolling in the second contest.

 

The Warriors, 46-4 overall, and the Owls, 21-28, conclude the four-game series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Harris Field on Sunday.

 

LCSC nearly suffered only its second loss ever to OIT in the opening game. OIT left-hander Derek Jacobson blanked the Warriors for six innings and was three outs away from a complete-game shutout. LCSC, however, rallied for the tying run in the bottom of the seventh.

 

Jacobson pitched 7.1 innings and allowed only five hits and four walks. He also struck out four. He was relieved by Chad Trevison, who gave up the home run to Lester, the only batter he faced in the game.

 

While LCSC struggled to a season-low six hits in the game, Warrior junior left-hander Michael Guerrero threw another gem himself. He allowed only four hits and one unearned run in 7.2 innings. He struck out nine and didn't issue a walk. It's his third start this season he's not allowed a walk.

 

Justin Mace had the fortune of throwing three pitches to get the final out of the eighth inning with a strikeout. The three pitches also helped him earn the win, while Trevison threw only two pitches in taking the loss.
 

Oregon Tech scored its only run in the fourth inning with the help of an error. LCSC tied the game in the seventh when Brian Ward drew a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Brian Bollwit. After Mickey Pingree's sacrifice bunt moved Bollwit to second, pinch-hitter Mike Rivera hit an RBI double down the right-field line. LCSC, however, left two runners on base.

 

Oregon Tech also had two runners reach base in the eighth before Mace picked up the strike out to end the threat.  Kyle Greene started the LCSC eighth by fouling out, but Lester ended the contest with a home run to center field.

 

In the second contest, LCSC out-hit OIT 13-4 and didn't have to rely on any late-game heroics for the win.

 

OIT did take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second, but a two-run single by Josh Ashenbrenner made it 2-1 for the Warriors.

 

LCSC then pushed five runs across in the third for a 7-1 advantage. Singles by Brent Wyatt and Ward sandwiched Paul Martin being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lester, a senior who caught fire about this time a year ago, then hit LCSC's fourth grand slam of the season and his seventh home run of the season. Mike Rivera followed with a triple and scored on a ground out by Bernard Pena.

 

LCSC added four runs in the fifth for an 11-1 advantage. Greene started the rally with a single and scored on Ward's two-run home run to left field (his home run swing shown in photo above), his sixth homer of the season. Lester followed with a double and scored on a triple by Pena.

 

In all, LCSC had eight extra-base hits on the day, including five in the second game. Both Lester and Ward finished the game 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored. Lester also drove in five runs, while Ward had two RBI.

 

Warrior starter Ryan Woods (left) pitched six innings and allowed two hits and one run. He also walked three and struck out eight in his longest stint of the season. Tyler Knigge pitched the final three innings and allowed two runs and two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

 

LCSC also learned Saturday where the four-team Region I Tournament will take place. Because British Columbia split a Region 1 doubleheader with College of Idaho, UBC will play host to the four-team tournament next Thursday-Saturday. LCSC will be the top seed and will play No. 4 seed Concordia in the opening round, while UBC and College of Idaho will meet in the other first-round game on Thursday in the double-elimination tournament. The winner of the tourney will play host to the Super Regional the following week. The Super Regional is a best-of-three series matching the Region I winner against the Region II winner from California.