Owls Go Extra Innings, Drop Two at LC State
LEWISTON, Idaho (May 3, 2008)--A game-winning home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the second contest by LC State’s Ikaika Lester, helped the Warriors sweep a doubleheader from Oregon Tech 2-1 and 11-3 at LCSC's Harris Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors needed eight innings to win the scheduled seven-inning opener and stretched their win streak to 17 games by rolling in the second contest.
The Warriors, 46-4 overall, and the Owls, 21-28, conclude the four-game series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Harris Field on Sunday.
LCSC nearly suffered only its second loss ever to OIT in the opening game. OIT left-hander Derek Jacobson blanked the Warriors for six innings and was three outs away from a complete-game shutout. LCSC, however, rallied for the tying run in the bottom of the seventh.
Jacobson pitched 7.1 innings and allowed only five hits and four walks. He also struck out four. He was relieved by Chad Trevison, who gave up the home run to Lester, the only batter he faced in the game.
While LCSC struggled to a season-low six hits in the game, Warrior junior left-hander Michael Guerrero threw another gem himself. He allowed only four hits and one unearned run in 7.2 innings. He struck out nine and did not issue a walk.
Oregon Tech scored its only run in the fourth inning with the help of an error. LCSC tied the game in the seventh on a walk, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, a pinch-hitter RBI double down the right-field line tied the game at 1-1.
Oregon Tech had two runners reach base in the eighth, but a strike out would end the threat. Tech would register the first out of the bottom of the eight, but Lester ended the contest with a home run to center field.
In the second contest, LCSC out-hit OIT 13-4 and did not have to rely on any late-game heroics for the win.
OIT did take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second, but a two-run single by LC State made it 2-1 for the Warriors.
LCSC then pushed five runs across in the third for a 7-1 advantage on back to back singles and a hit by pitch that loaded the bases. Lester would then connect for another homerun, his seventh home run of the season, to go up five runs. Mike Rivera followed with a triple and scored on a ground out that plated one more for the six run advantage. LCSC added four runs in the fifth for an 11-1 lead, while Tech would plate two runs, falling in game two 11-3.
Tech will finish their season tomorrow with a doubleheader at LC State scheduled to begin an 11 a.m.
-LCSC-