Ninth-Inning Comeback Prevents Concordia Sweep of LC State
Rue, Cavs Blank LC State in Series Finale
LEWISTON, Idaho—After giving up a ninth-inning lead in the opener, Concordia pitcher Ben Rue tossed a complete-game shut out as the Cavaliers defeated Lewis-Clark State 1-0 at Harris Field.
With the result, Concordia improved to 19-30 on the year while LC State, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA, dropped to 31-10.
The win marked the second time this season Concordia has defeated the Warriors. The first came in the season opener when Concordia claimed a 5-4 win, which was the first time in 42 games Concordia had defeated LCSC. Rue allowed five hits and seven walks, but struck out five while lasting until the final out.
After seven scoreless innings, Jarren Hirasaki connected on a sacrifice fly to right field to send Kyle Schneider home from third for the game’s lone score. Trying to move Ben Lanier over to second on a bunt, Schneider reached on a fielder’s choice. He was then moved to third on the next at bat with a single by Jimmy Rudig. The Warriors stranded 12 in the game including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth. They also had a runner thrown out at the plate in the fifth inning with a throw coming in from CU rightfielder Cameron Baker.
In the ninth, LCSC appeared ready to pull out another last-inning victory when Travis Georgius walked and Danny Anguiano singled. Paul Martin tried to move the runners over with a bunt, but Concordia was able to throw out the lead runner, keeping runners on first and second with one out. After a walk to Josh Ashenbrenner to load the bases, Vaughan Prow hit into a 4-6-3 doubleplay to end the game.
LCSC’s three pitchers also turned in solid performances and combined on a three-hitter. Starter Brian Erickson allowed just one hit and four walks though five innings. He also struck out six. Nick Masters pitched three innings and gave up two hits, a walk and the game’s only run, while Henry Buenrostro retired the Cavaliers in order in the ninth. Prow was the only Warrior with more than one hit in the game as he finished with two. Rudig posted two of the three Cavalier hits.
Concordia returns to action on May 1 in the regular season finale at the University of Portland. Opening pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Portland.
LC State Rallies in Ninth
LEWISTON, Idaho—Trailing 4-1, the No. 6 ranked Warriors of Lewis-Clark State rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun Concordia in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader played at Harris Field on Friday.
With the result, LC State improved to 31-9 on the year while CU dropped to 18-30.
The Cavaliers struck first with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the third. Ben Lanier started the spree with a single and Brady Miletich followed by reaching first by taking a pitch to the body. An error at second during Jimmy Rudig’s at bat sent Lanier home for the opening score. J.J. Berg posted the second hit of the inning with a single to right to set up a bases-loaded situation for Chris Jaime, who was also plunked for an RBI free pass to first. The inning ended with Brennan Ingram grounding into a fielder’s choice to the shortstop.
After being shut down through four innings, the Warriors were finally able to generate a run off of CU starter Brett Hawley in the fifth. Josh Ashenbrenner started the frame with a single through the right side and was immediately moved to second on a single to the left side by Brian Ward. Ashenbrenner would move to third on a double-play ball off the bat of Kris Miller but would wind up scoring on a called balk. With the bases clear, Hawley ended the inning with a grounder back to the pitcher’s mound.
The Cavs put together another two-out, two-run inning together in the seventh to extend its lead to 4-1. Kyle Schneider provided the punch with a single to left-center which allowed Justen Safadago and Danny Brown, both pinch runners, to score.
Coming in for Hawley, Ian Miller pitched a perfect seventh and utilized a double play to complete the eighth unharmed, but the Warriors would get their own two-out attach in the bottom of the ninth with Sean Halton connecting on a three-run bomb to left field, leading to a walk-off RBI single by Vaughan Prow.
Hawley allowed one run on six hits in the no-decision. Zach Clanton picked up the win after allowing one hits while recording the last seven outs. LC State outhit the Cavaliers 12-8. Lanier and Rudig each went 2-for-4 for the Cavs.