(Lewiston, ID) The No. 7 LC State Baseball team closed out the East/West Challenge in exciting fashion with a 10-3 victory over No. 1-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday. The Warriors had four RBI from Brandon Cabrera and a strong outing by a mix of pitchers to get the job done.
“Great all-around team win tonight,” coach Jake Taylor said. “Proud of our energy and the way we competed.”
The victory ends LC State’s time at the East/West Challenge with a 2-2 record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Starter Joey Estrada fanned two batters through the first two frames before TWU put up the game’s first run in the top of the third. The Warriors responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs. Ike George was hit by a pitch and Noah Weintraub notched a single to put two on and both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A groundout by Cabrera plated one and a wild pitch put the Warriors in front.
After a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, LC State added on in the home half of the inning. Jakob Marquez walked and took second and third on wild pitches. Anthony Karagiannopulos and George both earned free passes to load the bases and Weintraub walked to bring in a run.
The Bulldogs tied things up in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs before Brenner Farber came out of the bullpen to shut down the inning. A walk to Charlie Updegrave and base hit by Jack Sheward got the offense going. Spencer Zeller took over on the bases for Sheward and both he and Updegrave scored on a double off the bat of Marquez.
George doubled to lead off the sixth and took third on a passed ball. Cabrera knocked him in with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.
Kolby Solomon took over on the mound in the seventh and struck out two, and Levi Anderson came in for his collegiate debut with runners on in the eighth and struck out a pair.
LC State added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth after a walk to Marquez got things going. Seth Nelson reached on an error that allowed Marquez to score and Weintraub walked to put two on. Cabrera stepped to the plate next and tripled to bring in two and scored on an error on the play for the 10-3 advantage.
STAT RECAP
Cabrera led the Warriors with two hits and four RBI, while Weintraub ended his weekend with a 2-for-2 performance with an RBI. Marquez drove in two with his 2-for-2 day at the plate.
Farber earned the win after striking out two in 1.2 innings. Estrada ended his day after 4.1 frames with three strikeouts and three earned runs. Solomon and Anderson each fanned two and Robby Butenschoen closed things out in the ninth with a strikeout.
UP NEXT
The Warriors continue the Florida trip next week with matchups at Warner (Fla.) and No. 8 Webber International (Fla.).
