LEWISTON, Idaho – Concordia University battered four Lewis-Clark State College pitchers for 13 runs and 16 hits, and took advantage of four errors in the final two innings, to claim only its fourth win over the Warriors in 59 games with a 13-7 NAIA Far West victory at Harris Field on Friday.
The run and hit totals were all-time highs for Concordia in the history of the series. It’s also the most runs LCSC has allowed since suffering a 16-5 loss to Azusa Pacific in California on May 17, 2007 and the most runs it has allowed at Harris Field since a 13-10 loss also to Azusa Pacific on April 6, 2004.
Concordia improves to 5-7 overall with the win and 1-0 in conference play while LCSC slips to 9-2 and 1-1.
The Cavaliers took leads of 1-0 in the first and 3-2 in the fifth, only to have LCSC answer right away in the bottom of the innings. The Warriors led 7-6 heading into the eighth inning when Concordia put up four runs on three hits and three errors. The Cavaliers then added 3 runs on three hits and another error.
“We got beat by a better team today,” LCSC coach Gary Picone said. “We got beat by a better team in every phase of the game.”
All four LCSC pitchers in the game struggled. Started Cody Fassold gave up three runs and six hits in five innings, but also had three wild pitches. Zach Clanton lasted only one-third of an inning and allowed three hits and three runs, while Tyrell Poggemeyer took the loss with four runs and four hits in two innings of work. Carsen Nylund pitched the final 1.2 innings, but gave up three runs and three hits.
In all, 11 of Concordia’s 13 runs were earned.
“Our pitching isn’t anything close to where we need it to be,” Picone said. “But full marks to them. They were the better team.”
Concordia pieced together three hits, including an RBI single by Tommy Whalen to produce the run in the top of the first, but LCSC used two hit batters and walk to load the bases and set up Lucas Shaw’s two-run double for a 2-1 lead.
The Cavaliers struck for two runs in the top of the fifth when the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, Odie Hollingshed hit the first of his two home runs on the day.
Jake Eccles hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth for LCSC to tie the game at 3-3, and after Trent Bridges and Brian Gaylord singled, Gino Casini hit a three-run home run to left-center field, his second of the season, to make it 6-3.
Concordia tied the game in the top of the sixth when Sean Myrom hit a solo home run, his fourth of the season, and Tim Reavis added a two-run triple.
Casini appeared to be LCSC’s hero when his RBI single in the bottom of the seventh put the Warriors ahead 7-6.
Concordia, however, took advantage of mental and physical mistakes by LC to break the game open.
In the top of the eighth, Mike Cero singled and Reavis attempted a sacrifice bunt that Poggemeyer fielded and threw to second to get the lead runner and start a possible double play. Poggemeyer’s throw, however, pulled shortstop Kevin Lovelace off the bag early and Lovelace’s relay throw was well off the mark. Instead of two outs, Concordia had runners on second and third and no outs. Hollingshed made the Warriors pay with a three-run home run. The fourth run of the inning came on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
A throwing error allowed another run in the ninth, while Mike Dickman put the final touches on with a two-run double.
Hollingshed, who was homerless until Friday’s game, finished 2-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored. Cero was 3-for-4, while Curt Cosby was 3-for-5. Dickman (2-for-6) and Reavis (2-for-4) drove in two runs apiece.
Casini led LCSC’s 11-hit attack by going 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Trent Bridges went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. No other LCSC player had more than one hit.
The two teams, who were originally scheduled to play in Portland this weekend but moved the series to Lewiston because of weather and field issues, will continue play on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The four-game series wraps up on Sunday with a single game at noon.
