Zanon powers offense in sweep of Corban
Zachary Shore, LCSC
LEWISTON, Idaho – Jacob Zanon (JR/Beaverton, Ore.) finished the afternoon 4-for-9 with seven RBI and one run scored to lead the fourth-ranked Lewis-Clark State College baseball team to an NAIA West sweep of Corban, 3-1 and 9-0 on Sunday at Harris Field.
The LC right-fielder collected a double and one of three Warrior home runs to help LCSC finish the regular season 45-7 with a 30-5 record in the NAIA West. The losses drop Corban to 24-25 overall and 19-16 in the conference.
Game one starter for LCSC was
Connor Brogdon (JR/Madera Ranchos, Calif.) and he ran into some trouble early as a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases and Alex Storaci singled home the games' first run, however, it's the only tally the visitors could muster in the 18 innings.
Brogdon settled in, allowing just three more hits over his seven innings with two strikeouts and just the two early walks. Unfortunately, the offense mustered just one run and three hits in the first seven innings, giving Brogdon the no-decision.
The lone run came in the second as
J.J. Robinson (JR/Colfax, Wash.) led off with a double and scored on a
Julian Ramon (SR/Oxnard, Calif.) sacrifice fly, which turned into an inning ending double play as
Tyler McDowell (SO/Puyallup, Wash.) as gunned down at second trying to advance.
LC posted single hits in the sixth and seventh before breaking through in the eighth for two runs.
Gunnar Buhner (JR/Issaquah, Wash.) was hit by a pitch with one out and
Logan Griffin (JR/Apple Valley, Calif.) doubled to put two on. After a nice play by the Corban shortstop saved a run, Zanon delivered a two-out, two-run double for the game-winning tallies.
Anthony Balderas (JR/Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.), who relieved Brogdon in the eighth, improved to 4-0 with two perfect innings, striking out a pair.
Zanon went 2-for-4 in the first contest with two RBI and was the only Warrior with multiple hits as LC State tallied six in the game.
It was a different offense in game two as the Warriors scored three runs in the third and fourth, two in the six and one in the seventh while totaling 11 hits in the 9-0 win.
Four LC State hurlers,
Peter Irvin (SR/Redmond, Wash.) (4-1),
Shane Desmond (JR/Fresno, Calif.),
Henry McAree (JR/Shoreline, Wash.) and
Bryce Jackson (SR/Kennewick, Wash.) combined on the six-hit shutout, striking out eight Corban batters and walking just three. Irvin, the starter, allowed just two hits in his five innings, walking two and striking out six.
The offense did its part, getting going in the third, scoring all three runs with two outs. Griffin got it started with a walk, stole second, and scored on
Robert Smith Jr. (SR/Fremont, Calif.)'s double to left. Zanon followed with a home run deep over the left field wall for the 3-0 lead.
Micah Brown (SO/Medord, Ore.) hit the second home run of the game for Lewis-Clark State with one out in the fourth, starting another three-run inning.
Andris Rizquez (SR/Caracas, Venezuela) singled, Buhner was hit by a pitch and
Cooper Goldby (JR/Yuba City, Calif.) followed with an RBI single. A single by Griffin loaded the bases and Smith Jr. wore one to plate the third run.
Rizquez was in the middle of the scoring again in the sixth as he led off the frame with a hit by pitch and moved to third on Goldby's second hit. A Smith Jr. walk loaded the bases again and Zanon collected two more two-out RBIs with a single to right center for an 8-0 lead.
Rizquez capped his impressive game with a two-out solo home run to right field for the games' final run.
The senior left fielder finished the contest 2-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Zanon drove in four with two hits and scored once while Smith Jr. finished the contest 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.
Because LCSC receives the host berth to the Avista-NAIA World Series, they have deferred hosting the NAIA West Postseason Tournament and will travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the event where they will be the top seed. The Warriors will face the winner of Corban and Marymount (Calif.) on Friday, May 6 at 4 p.m.
Live audio of all LCSC games can be found on 950AM KOZE or online at
www.koze-sports.com.