LEWISTON, Idaho – The Warriors set an Avista NAIA World Series record on Monday with four straight innings of three or more runs scored in a 16-7 victory over MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.). Ninth-seeded LC State eliminated the 10th-seeded Pioneers from the tournament to move on to Tuesday.
Jace Hanson was solid on the mound in his seven innings. He earned the win behind a powerful offensive day by the LC State lineup. The Warriors tallied 18 hits with seven going for extra bases.
More information about Tuesday’s matchup will be available later tonight.
MNU’s Noah Castillo put the Pioneers on top in the first inning with a three-run homer, but the Warriors answered in the bottom of the frame to even things up.
Nick Seamons walked and Sam Olsson singled to put two on. Isaac Haws took over on the bases for the Warrior catcher and Charlie Updegrave drove in a run with a double into the right field corner. A wild pitch brought Haws across and a groundout by Isaiah Thomas tied the score 3-3.
LC put up a five spot in the bottom of the second. Jakob Marquez singled to right and Carter Booth doubled to put two in scoring position with two outs. A base hit by Seamons brought in two. Olsson walked to keep the frame going and Updegrave made it an 8-3 lead with a three-run bomb over the center field wall.
MNU got a run back in the next half inning, but the Warrior offense continued to extend the advantage in the home half of the third. Pu’ukani De Sa led off with a single down the right field line and Marquez wore a pitch. A walk to Booth loaded the bases and Seamons drove in two with a single. An RBI-groundout by Olsson had LC up 11-4 through three.
The Warriors busted the game open in the fourth with another five runs. Thomas and Dominic Signorelli started the inning with back-to-back homers and two straight singles by De Sa and Marquez put two on. Rivera walked to load the bases and Booth singled to drive in pinch runner Joe Canty and Marquez. LC lead 16-4 after four innings.
MNU struck for three runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Warrior bullpen held the lead to keep LC State alive. Hanson went seven and struck out five before Jantzen Lucas and Eli Shubert teach threw an inning out of the pen.
Booth, Seamons and De Sa each had three hits in the contest, and Seamons and Updegrave each drove on four runs.
More information on Tuesday’s matchups will be available at the conclusion of play today.
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