CALDWELL, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State College baseball team plated 13 runs in the first inning to score a season-high and thump the College of Idaho 20-3 on Thursday. Warriors Kris Miller and Sean Halton highlighted the rout with five runs batted in apiece.
Despite the game being called in the seventh by the mercy rule, LCSC also collected a season-high 19 hits.
The Warriors’ first 11 batters in the game reached base via two walks, two hit batsmen, five singles, one double, and one triple. Finally, the 12th man to step to the plate grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, but the Warriors were not done yet as Ben Ornelas followed with another triple and Miller delivered the grand finale with a two-run home run down the left field line.
In all, the Warriors had nine hits in the first inning which was only two away from the program record of 11 hits in an inning which was set on April 19, 1977 against Central Washington and accomplished again on March 28, 1987 versus Minnesota. The all-time mark for runs in an inning came on April 23, 1981 against Central Washington and April 27, 1989 against Eastern Oregon when LCSC scored 17.
For good measure, LCSC added another four runs in the third when Halton blasted a grand slam to center field. It was Halton’s team-leading 10th long ball of the year.
Miller finished the game 4-for-4 with three runs scored, Halton was 2-for-4 with two runs, and Ornelas finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
Kyle Melton, Kawika Emsley-Pai, and Josh Ashenbrenner also added two hits apiece.
The 19 hits on Thursday were as many as the Warriors had in their three previous games combined.
With more than enough breathing room, Warrior starting pitcher Tom Peale cruised through six innings of work to get the win and improve to 4-1. Peale surrendered six hits, three runs, and struck out four.
The Coyote’s used four pitchers in the game with starter Jason Berry being decisively tagged with the loss. Barry, who entered the game with a 3-0 record, gave up all 11 runs and seven hits in the first inning.
LCSC, now 26-9, will take on the 25-14 Coyotes again in Caldwell on Friday at noon. The two teams will then travel to Lewiston for two more games over Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m., while the first pitch of Sunday’s game will hit the mitt at noon.
