VANCOUVER, B.C. – No. 21 LC State Baseball salvaged a series split with No. 10 British Columbia behind a four-hit, five-RBI day from Brandon Nguyen. Kason O'Neil gave the Warriors a strong start on the mound to limit UBC at the plate
The contest was a non-conference matchup and the win moves the LC State record to 8-2 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Starting pitcher Kason O'Neil held UBC off the board through the first three innings and a solo shot by Brandon Nguyen put the Warriors in front in the top of the fourth. The Thunderbirds answered with a run on three hits in the home half of the inning to tie the game.
LC State took advantage of a UBC error in the fifth to regain the lead. Izzy Madariaga reached on an error and stole second. A groundout moved him to third and Cade Westerlund walked to put two runners on. Back-to-back hits by Ty Rusko and Nguyen plated three runs to give the Warriors a 4-1 advantage.
The Warriors scored two runs in the sixth without a hit to further the lead. Jackson Reed and Bryce Johnson both walked and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. A pair of wild pitches brought in both runners to make it 6-1.
Pitching woes continued to plague the Thunderbirds as LC State added six runs in the seventh. Sam Weber, Reed and Madariaga walked before Cayden Wotipka and Kooper Jones were each hit by a pitch to plate two runs. Rusko and Nguyen notched back-to-back hits to push the cushion to 12-1.
Sebastian Laddusaw took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh and UBC took advantage with five runs on six hits. Dominic Tatone came out of the bullpen during the frame to get LC State out of the inning with a 12-6 lead.
Zak Sullivan worked a scoreless eighth and the Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on hits by Nguyen and Weber. Sullivan closed out the contest with a 1-2-3 ninth.
STAT RECAP
Nguyen had a standout game with a 4-for-6 day at the plate and five RBI. He was one of four Warriors to score twice. Rusko tallied two hits with three RBI.
O'Neil earned the win with six innings pitched and one run allowed. He struck out three.
UP NEXT
The Warriors are in Portland next weekend for a four-game series with Warner Pacific (Ore.).
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