Weather played havoc with PNW Division II and NAIA teams, but the NAIA teams got a net gain.
Lewis-Clark State 7, Saint Thomas (FL) 6. The Warriors had a 6-1 lead after three innings, the result of a three-run home run by Dominic Signorelli in the first inning, and another three-run home run by Charlie Updegrave in the third inning. The Bobcats cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth inning, but the Warriors got the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Updegrave. The Bobcats came up just short. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth, and scored the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. An RBI single made the score 7-5. The Warriors brought in Eli Takalo to put out the fire. He was greeted with another sacrifice fly, which made the score 7-6, but the Bobcats were down to their last out. They brought in a pinch hitter, and Takalo struck him out to preserve the win.
Decker Stedman got the win, but the best pitching performance, other than Takalo, was by Brennen Farber, who pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed zero runs on one hit, and struck out five. Updegrave had another big game; 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored.
Eastern Oregon 9, Saint Martin’s 8. The Mountaineers were supposed to be off this week, and Division II Saint Martin’s was supposed to open their season at Cal State San Marcos. The visit to San Marcos was cancelled due to weather, and instead, the Saints went to La Grande, OR to play the Mountaineers.
The Mountaineers got their fourth win of this season, already one more than they got all last year. This one was close all the way. The Saints lead 3-1 after four innings, but the Mountaineers got three runs in the bottom of the fifth, two of them on a home run by Chase Nett. The Saints answered with a three-run home run by Damon Ingram in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Nett hit a two-RBI single, Mario Landeros hit a two-RBI single, and the game was tied 8-8. Then, Trevor Baker hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh to win it. After that, Jake Herrera shut down the Saints for the final two innings, allowed only one hit, struck out two.
Cooper Roberts got the win; he pitched 1 1/3 innings, didn’t allow a hit. Blaze Wong got the loss. Nett finished 2-for-5 with four RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Landeros finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Ingram had a big game; 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, five RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored. recap
Bushnell won their season opener at Jessup 10-4. They got solo home runs by Ethan Stacy and Albert Jennings (transfer from Tacoma CC) in the early going. They got all the runs they needed in the fifth inning on a grand slam home run by Jennings. Trevor Hammond got the win, but Garrett Vohs and Colby Knutzen held the Warriors hitless over the final three innings. Jennings had the two home runs and a total of six RBI. Stacy finished 3-for-4 with the home run, a double, and three runs scored. Trey Furrey, who terrorized Oregon Tech last week, was held to only one hit, a home run. recap
College of Idaho was swept by Ottawa (AZ) in a double-header on Thursday, 6-5 and 11-0. The first game was close all the way. The Coyotes got a couple of unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning, then tied it 5-5 with a sacrifice fly by Jordan Kelly in the seventh. However, the Spirit won it with a sacrifice fly by Ryne Lina in the bottom of the eighth. Starter Gino McDuffie got the loss.
The Spirit scored nine runs in the third inning of the second game. Evan Massie and Josiah Dominguez combined to hold the Coyotes to three hits. Dawson Cummins, who was charged with all nine of those third inning runs, got the loss. recap
Upcoming:
Lewis-Clark State vs. #1 Southeastern in Glendale, AZ, 3:45 PM video audio
Central Washington vs. British Columbia, double-header, at Joe Martin Field, Bellingham, WA, 1PM. CWU was supposed to travel to Concordia-Irvine to start their season, and UBC wasn’t supposed to start their season until Feb. 9. Instead, both teams are starting their season in Bellingham.
Saint Martin’s at Eastern Oregon, double-header, 11 AM.
College of Idaho at Ottawa (AZ), 11 AM video (paywalled)
Bushnell at Jessup, noon video
Corban at Antelope Valley, triple-header, 9 AM. A double-header the previous day was canceled. video (first game only)
