MESA, Ariz. – Justin Mazzone delivered for No. 4 LC State in the top of the ninth with a go-ahead three-RBI triple to put the Warrior on top in a thrilling contest on Tuesday night. Trent Sellers shut the door on No. 23 Benedictine Mesa with a pair of punchouts in the bottom of the ninth to finish off the 11-8 victory.
Cameron Smith put together a clutch performance out of the bullpen to help LC out of a jam in the early innings and give the Warriors a chance to respond. With the victory, the Warriors are 5-0 on the young season.
“Cam did a great job in relief and held Benedictine in check,” Head Coach Jake Taylor said. “Offensively we need to find our identity and get tougher are the plate.”
Riley Way ripped a triple into the gap in right on the first pitch of the game, but was left stranded in the inning. The Redhawks struck first for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second off starter Alec Holmes. Smith came on in relief but Benedictine Mesa took a 4-0 lead into the third.
A.J. Davis put LC on the board with an RBI-double in the top of the third. Sam Linscott and Way both singled in the inning, with Linscott coming around on Davis’ knock. Way crossed the plate on a wild pitch before a sacrifice fly by Luke White plated Davis.
Matt James evened the score with an RBI-double, and Mazzone put the Warriors in front with a base hit. LC led 5-4 after the half inning.
The Warriors quickly retired the first two batters in the bottom of the third, and Smith erased a two-out single when he picked off the runner at first base to keep LC in the lead. Back-to-back punchouts by Smith in the fourth cooled the Redhawks offense.
LC State added on in the fifth when White doubled to knock in Aidan Nagle who had reached on a single in the previous at bat. The hits continue in the sixth when Nick Seamons tripled and scored on a double by Linscott to make it 7-4.
Eli Shubert got the ball in the bottom of the seventh and gave up two to cut the margin to one at 7-6. Benedictine tied things up in the eighth before taking the lead on a sacrifice fly.
Back-to-back walks to Way and Davis gave Nagle the opportunity for the game-tying RBI-single in the top of the ninth.
James wore a pitch to load the bases and Mazzone delivered. The Warrior backstop drilled a ball to center to bring in two, and an errant throw made it 11-8 LC.
Trent Sellers took over on the mound in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the final two batters in a 1-2-3 inning.
Mazzone led the offense with four RBI and two hits, including a double. Way, Nagle and Linscott also tallied two hits each and White knocked in two runs. Nagle scored three time. As a team, the Warriors put up 12 hits.
Smith gave the Warriors momentum out of the bullpen with his 4.2 innings pitched. He struck out three and did not allow a run. Sellers fanned two in his quick ninth inning.
LC State takes on Arizona Christian on Wednesday in the first of a two-game series. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. PT.
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