Local News

Seamons and Updegrave Come in Clutch in Season-Opening Wins

Published

February 1, 2024

2/1/2024 | Alisha Alexander | Assistant Athletic Director-Sports Information

MESA, Ariz.– The No. 3 LC State Baseball team opened the 2024 season with a pair of wins in two very different games. Game one saw the Warrior offense tally 13 runs, highlighted by four RBI by Nicks Seamons, for a 13-7 win over No. 6 Tennessee Wesleyan. LC State battled from behind in game two before a walk-off base hit by Charlie Updegrave gave the Warriors a 4-3 victory against No. 7 Bellevue (Neb.).

Warrior starting pitching was strong with solid outings by both Drake George and Jace Hanson. The pair combined for 12 strikeouts in the starts.

“Good start to the season against two exceptional teams,” Head Coach Jake Taylor said. “Overall, we have a lot of room for improvement in all facets of the game, but excited to start the journey.”

GAME ONE: No. 3 LC State def. No. 6 Tennessee Wesleyan 13-7

The offense got rolling in the top of the second after a walk to Pu’ukani De Sa. Ike George singled for the first Warrior hit of the season and Carter Booth walked to load the bases. Seamons cleared the bases with a line shot triple to right center for a 3-0 lead.

Drake George struck out the side in the bottom of the inning and held TWU off the board before LC added on in the fourth. Bulla Ephan walked to lead off the inning and courtesy runner Brandon Cabrera took second on a wild pitch. Walks to Ike George and Booth loaded the bases for Seamons once again and an RBI-groundout made it 4-0.

The Bulldogs struggled to record an out as an error, two more walks and a hit-by-pitch had the LC State lead at 8-0 by the end of the frame.

Starter Drake George sat Tennessee Wesleyan down in order in the bottom of the fourth.

The Warriors put up another two runs in the fifth to grow the lead to 10-0. Booth was hit by a pitch and Seamons and Charlie Updegrave tallied back-to-back singles to bring in one. Noah Weintraub grounded out to bring in the 10^th run of the contest.

Jantzen Lucas took over with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and was solid through his 2.1 innings. The junior struck out the side in the sixth before giving up two in the seventh.

Ephan singled to get the offense going in the eighth and Booth sent a double to left for an 11-2 advantage. Updegrave reached via a walk in the top of the ninth and Dominic Signorelli drilled the first LC State home run of the season to push the lead to 13-2.

TWU rallied in the bottom of the inning to knock out reliever Zachary Ediger. Kolby Solomon took over on the mound before ending the game with a strikeout. The Warriors hung on to win 13-7.

Seamons led LC with two hits and four RBI. Signorelli drove in three and Updegrave knocked in two.

Drake George struck out seven in his 4.2 shutout innings and Lucas earned the win after tossing 2.1 frames with four strikeouts.

GAME TWO: No. 3 LC State def. No. 7 Bellevue (Neb.) 4-3

Hanson struck out three through his first three innings but Bellevue struck first with a run in the third. The Warriors threatened with two on and two outs in the bottom if the innings but could not scratch a run across.

Bellevue tacked on another run in the fourth, but LC State erased it in the next half inning. Seamons led off the frame with a double and Updegrave drove him in with a single to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Seamons stayed hot at the plate with a game-tying double in the sixth. Ike George started the inning with a hit-by-pitch before the two-bagger by Seamons made it a 2-2 ball game. The senior took third on a passed ball and Updegrave gave LC State its first lead of the game with a sacrifice fly.

Cameron Smith came out of the bullpen in the eighth and held the Warrior lead. He struck out the first two batters in the ninth before Bellevue surged to strike for one and tie the game 3-3. Smith struck out one more to end the top of the ninth.

Updegrave provided the heroics in the bottom of the ninth to end the game. Leo Rivera reached on a hit-by-pitch and was lifted for pinch runner Alex Sol. A single by Ike George put him in scoring position before a base hit by Updegrave scored the game-winner for a 4-3 final.

Updegrave led the game with three RBI, including the game-winner. Ike George Seamons, Updegrave and De Sa each tallied two hits and Seamons scored twice.

Smith received the win after throwing the final two innings. Hanson struck out five in his start, Brady Maylett fanned two in his relief appearance and Smith struck out three.

UP NEXT

The Warriors take on top-ranked Southeastern (Fla.) on Friday at 6:15 p.m. PT. The game will be played in Phoenix and hosted by Arizona Christian.

Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.

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