Lester, Thompson power LCSC over Whitworth 9-2

 2-17-07

Senior first baseman Ikaika Lester (pictured left) drove in three runs, while senior center fielder Mark Thompson went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored to help the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team defeat Whitworth for the 19th consecutive time, 9-2, in action at the Regence BlueShield of Idaho Tournament at Lewiston’s Harris Field on Saturday. 

The Warriors, 2-0 on the season and in the tournament, made the most of their nine hits in the game as a couple of errors and five walks aided LCSC’s cause. 

Whitworth, which fell to Albertson 8-2 earlier in the day to fall to 0-2 on the season and in the tournament, trailed only 3-2 going into the seventh inning when the Warriors put the game away with five runs. 

Starting pitchers Jared Joaquin for LCSC and Brandon Zimmerman for Whitworth both threw well early. Joaquin allowed five hits and two runs in five innings, while striking out six and walking two. Will Morgan, who has been battling injuries, looked strong in his season debut and went the final four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out six
 (Ikaika Lester during his first at-bat)            while retiring 12 straight at one point. 

LCSC picked up a pair of runs in the first when Mark Thompson opened the game with a double and Brent Wyatt followed with a triple to right. A ground out by Paul Martin scored Wyatt. 

Whitworth picked up a run in the fourth on Mitch Ramsay’s sacrifice fly, but the Warriors made it 3-1 in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI single to right by Thompson. 

Whitworth answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning on a single by Jon Whiteside and an RBI double by Ryne Webb. Whitworth, however, collected only one hit the rest of the way, a single by Alex Scarpelli to start the sixth inning. Morgan, however, retired the next 12 batters he faced to earn the save. 

The Warriors broke open the tight contest in the seventh when Joey Briggs hit a one-out double and scored on a two-out double by Thompson. After consecutive walks to Wyatt and Martin loaded the bases, Beau Mills ripped a two-run double to right center and Lester followed with a two-run triple off the wall in center field to make it 8-2. 

LCSC’s final run came in the top of the ninth when Ryan Wholey hit a one-out single and scored on a double by Lester. 

Of LCSC’s eight hits in the game, five went for doubles and one was a triple. Along with his two doubles, Thompson also stole two bases. 

In Albertson’s 8-2 win over Whitworth, shortstop Casey Oliver and catcher Pat Burke, the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in the Coyotes’ lineup, were a combined 5-for-7 with four RBI and two runs scored. Albertson scored three times in the first and added two runs apiece in the third and fourth innings for a commanding 7-1 lead. 

Jason Roach, the first of four Albertson pitchers, tossed a four-hitter over six innings and allowed two runs and two walks, with five strikeouts. Scarpelli led Whitworth with two hits, including a solo home run, which is the only home run in the tournament so far. 

Tournament action continues on Sunday with three games. Albertson, which is 1-1 in the tournament and 3-1 overall, faces Whitworth at 10 a.m., followed by LCSC and Albertson at 12:30 p.m., and LCSC against Whitworth at 3 p.m.

(Senior Jared Joaquin throwing in the early innings of his 8-2 victory over Whitworth)