KEIZER, Ore. – The No. 7-ranked Lewis-Clark State College baseball team showcased why it is currently one of the hottest teams in the country on Friday night, blasting four homers in a dominating 22-0 rout of Corban University in the series opener between the two clubs.
The squad from Lewiston has now scored double-digit runs in each of its past 10 games, stretching its winning streak to 18-consecutive contests.
Friday's scoring came early and often for LC State, as Aidan Nagle's two-out, three-run long ball to dead center was the key hit in a four-run first. The blast gave Nagle sole possession of the team lead in homers with nine.
Brock Ephan—who entered the contest tied with Nagle with eight long balls on the spring season—quickly matched Nagle when he blasted a three-run blast of his own in the third, quickly giving LC State starter Trent Sellers a seven-run cushion to work with.
Two-run homers from Matt James and Dalton Harum powered a four-run fifth for LCSC, and the visitors were off in running in a truly dominant offensive display.
Ephan would finish the day 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs, while leadoff man Riley Way also tallied a trio of knocks (3-for-7, 2 R) in the victory. Jack Johnson (2-for-7, 3 R, RBI), Luke White (2-for-6, 3 RBI, R), Harum (2-for-4, 2 RBI, R), and Nagle (2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 R) all turned in multi-hit efforts, as well.
Eleven different players registered at least one knock for LC State, while nine different representatives from the roster drove in a run.
Sellers would end up earning his fourth win of the season on the mound, tossing six innings of scoreless baseball and striking out five along the way.
Corban was sloppy in every facet of the game, as the red-hot LC offense was aided by a season-high six errors from the hometown squad, as well as seven walks and three hit batsmen.
With the triumph, LC State moves to 27-2 (20-1 CCC) on the season, continuing its dominant stretch in conference play.
Fortunately for the Navy and Gold (11-22, 10-11 CCC), tomorrow is a new day, and the two squads will be back at it for a couple more games at Volcanoes Stadium. Saturday's first contest is slated to get underway at 12 p.m.