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Top-ranked L-C State takes twinbill from Tech

05.02.2010

LEWISTON, Idaho - The Lewis-Clark State College baseball team won the opener 8-3 and found its fifth way to win a walk-off game this season after a fielder's choice drove in the game-ending run in extra innings to help the Warriors defeat Oregon Tech 8-7 in the nightcap, sweeping a doubleheader from the Owls at Harris Field on Sunday.

The No. 1 ranked Warriors move to 43-3 on the season, while the Owls fall to 25-28. The two teams wrap up the series on Monday at a new time, 6 p.m. The two were originally scheduled to play an hour later at 7.

A vast improvement from yesterdays play, Lewis-Clark State would find a much tougher OIT team in game one, despite winning 8-3. Holding firm through the first three innings, Oregon Tech shortstop Zack Earle would find home plate off an error to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning.

Lewis-Clark State would find their bats in the fourth inning; however, knocking home six runs off seven hits, moving through their entire roster. OIT would get one back in the fifth with a run to the plate by Colin Stock off a failed pickoff attempt to first. Down 8-2, OIT would score a final run in the seventh off an RBI single by DH Mitch Garcia, but fell short of any comeback in the game one loss.

With game 2 underway, OIT would put the pressure on the Warriors early, tallying three runs in the second inning off four hits. With one out, Cory Spires would start the rally with a single to left followed by one more from Earle. The next pitch would leave the yard as Oregon Tech's Cory Staniforth connected with a three run homer, giving OIT the lead 3-0.

Good pitching form OIT's Shea Bedortha would hold the Warriors scoreless through the first three innings, but the Warriors would answer with three runs in the fourth and two runs again in the 5th. Bedortha would pitch for 4.2 innings, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits and 2 strikeouts before being relieved by Darryl Swearingen. Swearingen would finish the game, throwing 2 strikeouts and allowing just two runs on two hits.

Down two runs, the Owls would fight back to even it in the seventh inning, scoring two runs on four hits. Staniforth would push the ball past 3rd base and then find home as Trent Smith recorded his first RBI of the day. A wild pitch followed, allowing Kyle Conner to score from third after advancing from second off a single by Trent Smith.

A solo homerun to left from Staniforth in extra innings gave OIT the lead but would be overshadowed as two hits and a costly error allowed the Warriors to plate the tying and winning runs in the bottom half of the inning to gain the win.

OIT will look to end the sweep tomorrow in the final game of 4 against Lewis -Clark State at 7 pm.

Story provided by Sports Information intern David Buchanan