PORTLAND, Ore. - Tyrell Poggemeyer and Zach Arneson combined on a five-hitter to help the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team stop Concordia 9-1 in the opening game of a four-game NAIA West series at Joe Etzel Field on Friday.
Poggemeyer allowed five hits and one run through seven innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-1 on the season and lower his earned run average to less than 1.00. Poggemeyer also struck out five and didn't allow a walk.
Arneson pitched the final two innings and didn't allow a hit. He struck out two and walked one, but that baserunner was eliminated on a double play.
The Warrior defense was flawless and didn't commit an error. This marked the eighth straight game LCSC has allowed only three earned runs or less. LCSC has a team ERA of 2.52 this season.
The win was the fourth straight for LCSC, which improves to 18-5 overall and 8-5 in NAIA West play, while Concordia, which split a four-game series with the Warriors in Lewiston earlier this season, fall to 7-18 overall and 2-11 in league play. LCSC also is 16-0 against Concordia away from Lewiston.
Brian Gaylord and Alfonso Casillas combined for five hits and six RBI in the contest to pace the LCSC offense. LCSC collected 11 hits in the game, including three for extra bases. Gaylord had the big hit with his sixth home run of the season, which tied him with Braxton Miller for most on the team.
The Warriors got busy early and jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kevin Lovelace drew a walk, went to second on a single by Trent Bridges, and scored on a single by Casillas, who missed the first month of the season with an injury.
LCSC added two more runs in the third when Connor Moore walked and went to second on a throwing error. Gaylord hit a two-out RBI single to right and eventually wound up on third after a second error by Concordia. Casillas followed with an RBI single to right.
In the fourth, Cody Weiss doubled, went to third on Aaron DeGuire's single, and came in on a passed ball.
Concordia picked up its only run in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Tim Reavis, but the Warriors answered with three in the top of the sixth for a 7-1 lead. With two outs, Moore started the rally with a two-out single and Bridges followed with a single. Gaylord then smacked a three-run home run to right field.
The Warriors added two more runs in the seventh without a base hit. Gino Casini and Jake Eccles were hit by pitches and Weiss walked to load the bases. Lovelace then drew a one-out walk to force in a run, and Michael Bush followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in the final run for a 9-1 advantage.
The two teams will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday and then wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday, also at noon.
