CALDWELL – The Warrior offense combined for nine extra-base hits including three home runs in Sunday’s series finale between No. 13 LC State Baseball and the College of Idaho. LC slugged its way to an 11-6 victory to split the Cascade Conference series with the Yotes.
With the win, LC State is 22-12 overall and 7-9 in conference play.
“Decker (Stedman) didn’t have his best stuff but competed and worked out of multiple situations early in the game to keep C of I from big innings,” Head Coach Jake Taylor said. “Obviously our offense has been off the past few weeks, but it was nice to see us apply pressure today. Hopefully, this will be a kick-starter and get us back on track.”
LC State took advantage of C of I mistakes in the third inning to jump in front 1-0. Bulla Ephan singled to lead off the inning and Isaac Haws took over on the bases for the catcher. An error moved Haws all the way to third before a balk brought in the game’s first run.
The Yotes evened the score in the bottom of the inning. Two hits and a hit batter loaded the bases before a groundout made it a 1-1 contest. Decker Stedman induced a fly-out to get LC out of the jam.
The back-and-forth continued in the fourth. Dominic Signorelli was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Sam Olsson, and two hits by the Yotes in the home half evened things up 2-2.
LC State struck for three runs in the fifth take regain the lead for good. Leo Rivera drove a single to center and scored on a triple by Nick Seamons. A sacrifice fly by Carter Booth plated Seamons, and Pu’ukani De Sa pushed the lead to 5-2 with a solo shot.
The Warriors added on in the sixth with a two-run blast by Jakob Marquez. Olsson was hit by a pitch to put a runner on for Marquez’ fifth home run of the season. Booth broke the inning opening after walks to Rivera and Seamons with his second three-run home run of the weekend. LC State led 10-2 through six innings.
Back-to-back doubles by Ephan and Rivera added a Warrior run in the top of the eighth, but the Yotes rallied in the bottom of the frame with four runs on five hits to cut the LC lead to 11-6.
Cameron Smith came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the side to close out the game.
Stedman earned the win after going five innings and striking out three. Bryson Spagnuolo fanned two in two scoreless frames. Drake George and Alec Holmes combined for an inning out of the bullpen before Smith closed out the contest.
Booth, De Sa, Signorelli, Ephan and Rivera each tallied two hits in the contest and Booth drove in four runs.
UP NEXT
LC State continues Cascade Conference play next weekend with a series at Eastern Oregon.
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