Lewis-Clark State got two big wins over #2-ranked LSU-Shreveport, British Columbia and Bushnell swept, Oregon Tech and Eastern Oregon split a double-header.
At La Grande, OR. First game: Eastern Oregon 6, Oregon Tech 5. The Mountaineers scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Brandon Taddy hit a two-RBI double, Parker Cumberland hit an RBI double, and Chase Nett bunted to score a run. That gave the Mountaineers a 6-4 lead. Tyler Horner hit a home run with two out in the top of the ninth to make it 6-5, but Alex Farnsworth struck out Julien Jones to end it.
The Mountaineers got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second scored on a double by Trevor Baker. The Hustlin’ Owls evened it in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double by Kyle Norton. The Owls took a 3-1 lead in the sixth with an RBI single by Brady Culp and Ka’ala Tam stealing home while Dane Bradshaw was caught trying to steal second. The Mountaineers got a run in the seventh on an RBI double by Joey Freitas, and the Owls took a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth when Culp drew a bases-loaded walk. However, Farnsworth got a fly out to get out of the inning with the bases loaded.
Both starters did well. Patrick Arman started for the Owls, went 6 2/3 innings, allowed two runs on eight hits, struck out three. Brock Cordes started for the Mountaineers, went six innings, also allowed eight hits, allowed three runs, struck out five. Farnsworth went the rest of the way for the Mountaineers, allowed two runs on three hits, struck out two, got the win. Riley Cronin, who relieved Arman, faced eight batters, and only got two of them out; he allowed four runs on four hits, got the loss. Cumberland finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Norton, Horner, and Matthew Ortiz all finished 2-for-5 for the Owls.
Second game: Oregon Tech 7, Eastern Oregon 4. The Hustlin’ Owls trailed 4-3 going into the ninth inning, but scored four runs to escape with a win. They won it when Alonzo Vergara and Korrey Siracusa scored on a throwing error. Patrick Barry bunted in the first insurance run, and Tyler Horner hit an RBI double for the second one. Tim Williams took the mound in the bottom of the ninth. He walked the first batter he faced, then got a double play and a fly out to end it.
The Owls got another great start from Bronson Chapple. He pitched eight innings, allowed four runs on seven hits, struck out eight, and got his seventh win of the season. Will Seslar was also effective for the Mountaineers; six innings pitched, three runs (two earned) on five hits, struck out nine. It was Jake Herrera, who relieved Seslar, who got the loss. He allowed only one hit, and zero earned runs, but the hit he allowed opened the ninth inning, and he was charged with the first two runs of that inning. Matthew Ortiz hit a home run in the first inning for the Owls, finished 2-for-4. Parker Cumberland finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Mountaineers. Joey Freitas hit a home run in the fifth inning. recap
Cameron Smith – photo by Alisha Alexander
At Lewiston, ID. First game: Lewis-Clark State 4, LSU-Shreveport 3 (10 innings). A game worthy of two of the top teams in the NAIA. Both teams scored a run in the first inning, and two runs in the sixth inning. The difference was Cameron Smith, who took the mound for the Warriors in the seventh inning, didn’t allow a hit, and struck out two. Pilot reliever Kenneth Schechter, who came in in the eighth inning, only allowed one hit, but it was a home run by Magnum Hofstetter with one out in the bottom of the tenth.
The Pilots’ runs came on a solo home run by Jayden Morgan and a two-run home run by Josh Gibson. The Warriors got a couple of big defensive plays to keep the second and third innings scoreless. The Warriors’ runs came on an RBI single by Jack Sheward, an RBI single by Pu’ukani De Sa, and a run walked in by Pilot reliever David Hankins. However, Hankins struck out the next batter to get out of the sixth inning with the bases loaded.
The Pilots’ starter, Draven Zeigler, pitched five innings, allowed one run on three hits, struck out four, and walked four. Brandon Cabrera finished 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, and a run scored for the Warriors. Josh Sallorin finished 3-for-4 for the Pilots, but didn’t figure in the scoring.
Second game: Lewis-Clark State 8, LSU-Shreveport 3. The Warriors got all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first inning; six runs on RBI singles by Jack Sheward and Brandon Cabrera, an RBI on a ground out by Pu’ukani De Sa, and a three-run home run by Charlie Updegrave. Warrior starter Decker Stedman kept the Pilots scoreless for five innings, allowed three hits, struck out two. Pilot starter Chase Guitreau, who didn’t get out of the first inning, got the loss. Updegrave also hit an RBI double. recap
Aaron Marsh
At Caldwell, ID. First game: British Columbia 19, College of Idaho 12. Aaron Marsh hit a two-RBI double in the third inning, a three-RBI single in the fourth inning, a two-RBI single in the fifth inning, and a grand slam home run in the eighth inning for a total of 11 RBI, which tied a school record. He finished 5-for-6, and scored five runs. Kaden Zarowny finished 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and four runs scored. Dylan Myttenar got the win in relief. He pitched two innings, allowed four runs on two hits. However, Evan Hoegler kept the Coyotes scoreless over the final four innings, allowed two hits. Coyote starter Nate Vidlak got the loss, gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits.
Second game: British Columbia 11, College of Idaho 3. The Thunderbirds scored five runs in the first three innings, including an inside-the-park home run by Jackson Boomer in the second inning. The winning run came on a two-RBI single by David Draayers. Marsh didn’t get an RBI in this one, but he still finished 3-for-6 with two doubles and two runs scored. Jonny McGill went 4-for-5 with a triple, a double, and two RBI. Draayers had five RBI. Trent Lenihan finished 4-for-6 with a triple, a double, and two RBI. Starter Ryan Beitel pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowed three runs on five hits, struck out four. Oliver Duthie went the rest of the way, didn’t allow a hit. Dawson Cummins got the loss. recap
At Springfield, OR. First game: Bushnell 10, Corban 7. The Beacons got the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Liam Kerr, and got two insurance runs on a throwing error. Jordan Wilson hit a home run in the bottom of the first for the Beacons. Ryan Clay and Brad Pellkofer hit solo home runs for the Warriors; Clay finished 3-for-5. Starter Nate Rasmussen got the win, pitched six innings, allowed five runs (two earned), struck out four. Hayden Van Acker got the loss.
Alec Gums
Second game: Bushnell 8, Corban 6. The Warriors got the early lead with a two-run home run by Lucas Mertlich in the top of the first. The Beacons got a run in the first inning, three runs in the second, and three runs in the third on a home run by Cade Crist, Reece Carganilla getting an RBI on a fielder’s choice, and Daniel Furman batting in the winning run with a single. The Warriors got a triple play in the bottom of the fifth. They loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, but a strikeout by Jayden Soriano and a diving catch by Furman ended the threat. Kai Keamo started for the Beacons, pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits, struck out seven. Soriano got the win, but it was Alec Gums who pitched the final three innings, didn’t allow a hit, struck out four, and got a save. Warrior starter Bryce Bridge got the loss. Kyle Casperson and Chase Nye both went 3-for-4 for the Beacons. Ryan Clay finished 3-for-4 with two doubles for the Warriors. recap
The Beacons swept the four-game series.
