CALDWELL, Idaho – Three Lewis-Clark State College pitchers combined on a seven-hitter and the Warriors used three home runs to score all but one of their runs to defeat College of Idaho 5-2 on Sunday.
The win lifts the Warriors to 12-6 on the season, including a 2-1 record against College of Idaho during the three-game series, which was LCSC’s first road trip of the season. College of Idaho slips to 11-7.
LCSC starter Ryan Woods had control issues for the second straight game and lasted only two innings. He gave up two hits and one run, but walked five with one strikeout. Michael Guerrero, who improved to 2-0 on the season, was solid in his five scoreless innings of work. He allowed three hits and one walk, and struck out two. Nick Masters, who closed out a win for LCSC on Saturday, also finished this game up. He allowed two hits and a run in his two innings of work, and struck out two to earn his third save.
At the plate, Sean Halton hit his team-leading seventh home run, and for the first time this season, it wasn’t a solo home run. However, both Josh Ashenbrenner and Travis Georgius hit solo shots for the Warriors.
After Woods got out of a bases-loaded jam unscathed in the first, the Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the second when Georgius, playing first base, hit his first home run of the season. Georgius has been used a first, third and catcher this season.
College of Idaho tied the game in the bottom of the second when two walks set up an RBI single by Matt Mejia, who drove in both runs for the Coyotes.
After Woods walked and hit a batter to start the third, he was replaced by Guerrero, who was helped by an inning-ending double play.
Both teams let scoring opportunities slip away. The Warriors had bases loaded in the fourth, while College of Idaho had two on in the fifth and sixth, but failed to score.
LCSC struck for three runs in the top of the eighth to break the 1-1 tie. After Kyle Melton struck out, Ashenbrenner homered to left, his second of the season. Brian Ward drew a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Ricky Reavis, who scored when Halton went deep, also to left field.
College of Idaho made it 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth when a single and a hit batter set up another RBI single by Mejia with one out. But Masters picked up a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat.
The Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Melton reached first on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored when Coyote first baseman Dane McGrady dropped a pop up by Ward.
Masters then retired the side in the ninth to end the game.
Georgius was the only Warrior with more than one hit as he finished with two. The three home runs by LCSC were the only extra-base hits by either team.
The Warriors are now off during the college’s spring break and won’t resume play until it plays host to Whitworth on March 24 at LCSC’s Harris Field.
