Three Lewis-Clark State College pitchers combined on a four-hit shut out to help the Warriors make short work of Concordia University 5-0 at LCSC’s Harris Field on Thursday night.
The effort marked the third time the Warrior pitching staff has held an opponent to just four hits this season – the fewest this year – and also was the team’s third shutout this season. Earlier this year, LCSC blanked Whitworth and Corban by identical 16-0 scores.
Junior right-hander Tom Peale improved to 5-1 on the season with perhaps his strongest outing of the season. The transfer from the University of San Francisco gave up only four hits in six innings and struck out two. One of the batters he allowed to reach was later thrown out trying to steal.
Senior Brad Schwarzenbach, who continues to looks great after missing almost a year after Tommy John surgery, retired six of the seven batters he faced, while freshman Zach Clanton retired the side in order in the ninth. Both Schwarzenbach and Clanton finished with two strikeouts apiece.
Concordia, which is from Portland, Ore., left four runners stranded on base, but only two made it to second base. All four Concordia hits were singles.
LCSC was able to chip away with solo runs here and there against Concordia starter Ross Conway, who fell to 4-6 on the season. Conway allowed nine hits and four earned runs. He also struck out three and walked two.
The Warriors picked up their first run in the third when Paul Martin drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Josh Ashenbrenner.
LCSC added solo runs in both the fifth and sixth innings for a 3-0 lead. In the fifth, Martin and Ashenbrenner hit back-to-back doubles with two outs, while a fielding error helped set up Kawika Emsley-Pai’s RBI groundout in the sixth.
The Warriors final two runs came in the eighth. Kris Miller opened the frame with a single and went to third on a double by Sean Halton. After Emsley-Pai was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Danny Anguiano singled to center to drive in two runs.
Ashenbrenner finished 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Warriors at the plate while Martin and Halton were 2-for-4. Martin and Miller also scored twice. Ben Lanier had two hits for Concordia.
The contest also took only 1 hour and 53 minutes to play, which marked the fourth time LCSC has played a nine-inning game in less than two hours this season.
The two teams face off again on Friday in a noon doubleheader at Harris Field.
