LEWISTON, Idaho – Seven solid innings by starter Carsen Nylund (photo)and three runs batted in by shortstop Bobby Tannehill helped the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team roll to a 7-3 victory over Concordia University (Ore.) on day one of the Guardian Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Tournament on Friday. The win lifts the No. 11-ranked Warriors to 3-2 on the season and starts the team out on the right foot in the three-day four-team tournament. The event continues with three games on Saturday and two seeded games on Sunday. Saturday will feature Concordia and George Fox at 10 a.m., LCSC and George Fox at 1 p.m., and then LCSC and British Columbia at 4 p.m.
Nylund, a sophomore from Surrey, British Columbia, held the Cavaliers to five hits and three runs to improve his record to 2-0 on the year. The 6-foot-4 righty threw 88 pitches and had six strikeouts and two walks. Zach Clanton pitched the final two frames in a non-save situation and struck out two while surrendering just one hit.
“I thought our pitching was pretty good,” LCSC head coach Gary Picone said. “Nylund was pretty consistent, and I think he is getting better and better each time out.”
The Warriors gave Nylund a lead to work with right from the start thanks to a two-run first inning. Trent Bridges plated the first run with a sac fly to center field, and a couple batters later Tannehill followed with a two-out RBI single to right field.
Tannehill, a junior from Auburn, Wash., also added an RBI single in the third, and a sac fly in the seventh. After going 2-for-18 at the Arizona tournament to start the season, Tannehill looks to be settling in, which is a welcomed sign for the Warrior coaching staff.
“Bobby swung the bat well tonight,” said Picone. “I don’t think he was real comfortable in Arizona. Offensively, we know he can be a good contributor.”
Along with Tannehill, Alfonso Casillas and Cody Garner had two hits apiece as the Warriors ended up with a 10-6 lead in total hits. Casillas had an RBI double in the third, and a leadoff double to start a two-run rally in the seventh. Garner had a single in the sixth and an RBI single in the seventh.
Eric Weir started the game and pitched sixth innings for Concordia to take the loss. His performance was marred by the team’s four errors. Of the five runs he surrendered only three of them were earned.
Concordia is now 1-3 on the season after falling to British Columbia 20-3 directly before facing LCSC. In the very first contest on Friday, British Columbia topped George Fox 9-8.
“Offensively, I thought we were inconsistent today,” said Picone. “We turned some potential big innings into one-run innings, but hopefully we’re getting better as we go. We’ll be playing a couple of tough teams tomorrow.”
