Ryan Beitel – photo by Rich Lam
British Columbia got their first win, College of Idaho swept a double-header, and Lewis-Clark State lost two games.
British Columbia 9, Ave Maria 3: At Lakeland, FL. The Thunderbirds got an excellent start from RHP Ryan Beitel. He pitched five hitless innings, and struck out eight. He was relieved by Owen McConnell, who continued the shutout for three more innings. He struck out four, but allowed two runs in the top of the ninth. Oliver Duthie was brought in to get the final two outs.
The Thunderbirds got three runs in the bottom of the first with RBI singles by Aaron Marsh and Mitchell Middlemiss, and Jackson Boomer drew a bases-loaded walk. They got all the runs they needed in the second inning, with an RBI single by Trent Lenihan, a two-RBI single by Kellen Bourne, and an RBI single by David Draayers. Bourne finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Box score
College of Idaho 10, Park-Gilbert 4: The Coyotes got all the runs they needed in the top of the first, led by a three-RBI double by Pete Bacon. Trevor Watkins added two home runs in later innings. Dawson Cummins started, Jakob Cummins pitched the middle three innings, allowed a run on two hits, got the win. The third Cummins brother, Jackson, pitched the final three innings, didn’t allow a hit, struck out six.
College of Idaho 13, Park-Gilbert 8: The Coyotes started off with a three-run home run by Caden Casagrand. Darren Smith added a solo home run in the fifth inning. Jacob Lewis got the win. Story from College of Idaho site
Saint Thomas (FL) 12, Lewis-Clark State 10: At Lakeland, FL. The Bobcats took an 8-4 lead with seven runs in the fourth inning. The Warriors didn’t score again until the top of the ninth, but a six-run rally, capped by a three-run home run by Charlie Updegrave, came up two runs short. Brandon Cabrera hit a three-run home run in the first inning, had four RBI total. Box score
Southeastern 3, Lewis-Clark State 2: The Warriors had only three hits against the Fire, ranked #11 in the NAIA. However, they led 2-0 going into the bottom of the eighth, on a sacrifice fly by Ike George and a run scored by Dominic Signorelli on a throwing error. Warriors starter Jaden Williamson was still going in the bottom of the eighth, and he was four outs away from a complete game shutout. However, his 107th pitch was a two-run home run by Connor Hicks.
So, the game was tied 2-2 going into the ninth inning. The Warriors went three up three down in the top of the ninth. Jace Taylor, who took over from Williamson, started the bottom of the ninth by hitting a batter, who then went to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a ground out. That set up pinch-hitter Sean Kaelber, who hit a double to end it.
Williamson’s numbers were 7 2/3 innings pitched, two runs on six hits, and six strikeouts. Box score
