CALDWELL, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State College baseball team cruised to an 11-7 win in the first game, but fell 3-2 in the second in a doubleheader against the College of Idaho on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors hammered a season-high 18 hits in the opener, but was held to a season-low three hits in the second game.
Kyle Melton and Season Halton headlined LCSC’s offensive bombardment in the first contest. Melton was 4-for-6 with two runs and an RBI, while Halton went 3-for-4, drove in four runs, and scored twice. Paul Martin and Danny Anguiano also had three hits apiece.
However, in the second game which was schedule for only seven innings, the Warriors’ offensive artillery was put on cease-fire by the arm of Coyote starting pitcher Jason Barry. Barry, a senior from Castlegar, British Columbia, allowed only one earned run (two unearned) as he pitched all seven innings.
The split brings both C of I and LCSC to records of 11-6 on the year. Prior to Saturday, LCSC had won 27 of the last 29 meetings between the two teams.
However, in the second game which was schedule for only seven innings, the Warriors’ offensive artillery was put on cease-fire by the arm of Coyote starting pitcher Jason Barry. Barry, a senior from Castlegar, British Columbia, allowed only one earned run (two unearned) as he pitched all seven innings.
The split brings both C of I and LCSC to records of 11-6 on the year. Prior to Saturday, LCSC had won 27 of the last 29 meetings between the two teams.
All six losses for the Warriors this season have come by two runs or less.
In the first game, the Warriors scored in six straight innings to hold a commanding 11-2 lead by the seventh. With only three extra-base hits in the game, LCSC pelted single after single at the Coyotes, and had its biggest inning in the sixth when it scored three runs.
Halton hit a two-run double in the fifth, and a one-run double in the sixth.
Starting LCSC pitcher Matt Stabelfeld looked good in his seven innings of work. He struck out five while giving up four hits and two runs to improve his season record to 2-0.
The Coyotes attempted to stage a comeback in the late innings off of Warrior relief pitchers, but had too far to climb. In the ninth, C of I scored four runs on four hits and ended the game with the bases loaded. Nick Masters came in with three runners on, struck out the first batter he faced, and forced a groundball for the final out of the game.
Lewis-Clark State began the second game in the same manner it had ruled the first game as three hits resulted in two runs in the first two innings. However, for the remainder of the game the Warriors were held hitless.
Dane McGrady plated all of the Coyotes’ runs in the second inning when he blasted a three-run homer to left field. It was McGrady’s first homerun of the year.
In the first game, the Warriors scored in six straight innings to hold a commanding 11-2 lead by the seventh. With only three extra-base hits in the game, LCSC pelted single after single at the Coyotes, and had its biggest inning in the sixth when it scored three runs.
Halton hit a two-run double in the fifth, and a one-run double in the sixth.
Starting LCSC pitcher Matt Stabelfeld looked good in his seven innings of work. He struck out five while giving up four hits and two runs to improve his season record to 2-0.
The Coyotes attempted to stage a comeback in the late innings off of Warrior relief pitchers, but had too far to climb. In the ninth, C of I scored four runs on four hits and ended the game with the bases loaded. Nick Masters came in with three runners on, struck out the first batter he faced, and forced a groundball for the final out of the game.
Lewis-Clark State began the second game in the same manner it had ruled the first game as three hits resulted in two runs in the first two innings. However, for the remainder of the game the Warriors were held hitless.
Dane McGrady plated all of the Coyotes’ runs in the second inning when he blasted a three-run homer to left field. It was McGrady’s first homerun of the year.
LCSC used three pitchers in the game. Starter Tyler Knigge, who gave up the long ball to McGrady, was handed his first loss of the season. Dustin Willis came in after Knigge and pitched 3 1/3 innings to extend his mark this season to 14 innings without surrendering a run, and senior, Brad Schwarzenbach, after undergoing Tommy John Surgery last year made his first appearance of the 2009 season. Schwarzenbach struck out two in a one-two-three sixth inning.
Melton, Brian Ward, and Paul Martin were the only Warriors with a hit in the game. Melton now has a team-leading six-game hitting streak.
Both teams will square off again on Sunday to close out the three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
