LEWISTON, Idaho – Senior Cade Westerlund delivered with the biggest hit of his career, and LC State Baseball is headed back to the Avista NAIA World Series. His RBI single in the bottom of the 10
th inning walked off the 2026 NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round, presented by Avista, to clinch a 3-2 victory over Hope International (Calif.).
The Warriors rallied for two runs after HIU took a late lead. LC State pitching limited a strong Royals offense to two runs, led by five shutout innings by Jackson Cloud.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Landon Webb held HIU off the board in the top of the first and three LC State hits had the Warriors in front early. Jackson Jaha reached on a single off the pitcher's glove, then back-to-back hits by Bryce Johnson and Jackson Reed drove in Jaha.
Hope International evened things up with a run in the top of the fourth before Cloud came out of the bullpen to limit the damage.
The Royals threatened with runners on the corners in the top of the sixth and one out, but a double play turned by Jaha, Izzy Madariaga and Ryan Prescott got the Warriors out of a jam without a run allowed in the frame.
The game sat tied through the end of nine innings and Hope International struck first in extras. The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10
th before the Warriors went back to the plate.
Jaha and Madariaga led off the inning with singles, but a bunt by Johnson erased the lead runner. Reed doubled down the right field line to drive in Madariaga and tie the game, and Westerlund delivered the game-winner with two outs. The senior stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and drove the first pitch he saw down the left field line to send LC State back to the Series.
STAT RECAP
Jaha had three hits in the game and Reed drove in the first two Warrior runs. Westerlund had the biggest hit and RBI of the contest.
Webb went 1.3 innings and allowed one run and Cloud tossed 5.2 innings with six strikeouts. He was effective with just one hit allowed. Joey Estrada earned the win with the final inning of work.
UP NEXT
The Warriors advance to the Avista NAIA World Series for the first time since 2023. The full bracket will be announced at the conclusion of the Opening Rounds.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.