The Lewis-Clark State baseball team claimed its second straight NAIA West Coast Super Regional title with a 4-3 win over Azusa Pacific Thursday night at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho. Junior right-hander Matt Fitts earned his third complete game victory, improving to 11-0 on the season as the Warriors posted another hard fought win over the Cougars.
The Santa Rosa, California native scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run with nine strikeouts and two walks to become one of only five pitchers in program history to post an 11-0 record in a season, and is now just two wins shy of tying the program record for single season wins of 13 last accomplished in 1988 by Chuck Higson who went a perfect 13-0.
Offensively, sophomore second baseman Josh Ashenbrenner went 2 for 2 at the plate and drove in two runs, while senior first baseman Ikaika Lester added two hits, including his 8th home run of the year and also picked up two RBI as LC out-hit Azusa 9-6. With the win the Warriors improved to 53-5 on the year while Azusa dropped to 45-10.
LC will play a single game Tuesday night in Seattle against the University of Washington prior to opening the 2008 NAIA World Series next Friday night May 23rd at Harris Field. Live coverage of all Warrior games can be heard on Talk Radio 950 KOZE-AM and on-line at koze-sports.com.
The Lewis-Clark State baseball team rallied to beat Azusa Pacific Wednesday night at Harris Field to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three NAIA West Coast Super Regional series.
Junior left-hander Michael Guerrero pitched seven strong innings allowing 3 runs on seven hits with 6 strikeouts as the Warriors claimed a 4-3 victory over the Cougars. Guerrero’s 115 pitch effort upped his record to 8-1 on the season and junior left-hander Blaine Hardy provided two innings of no-hit relief to claim his 4th save of the year.
Offensively, LC junior designated hitter Sean Halton had four hits, including his fourth home run of the year, and drove in two runs while scoring twice in leading a relatively quiet 10 hit attack. What the Warriors lacked in runs they made up for in efficiency as LC tied a season-low of leaving just four runners on base.
With the win LC improved to 52-5 on the year and leaves them one win shy of claiming the Super Regional title. Game two is set for Thursday at 6pm PDT at Harris Field with live coverage on Talk Radio 950 KOZE-AM and on-line at koze-sports.com.
The Lewis-Clark State baseball team will host Azusa Pacific in the best-of-three NAIA West Coast Super Regional series this week at Harris Field. The Region I champion Warriors are the top-seed in the 14 team Super Regional playoffs being played across the country.
Azusa is the #3 seed and qualified for the Super Regional round after sweeping the Region II tournament last week in southern California. LCSC Athletic Director Gary Picone says the school and the community are excited to host the post-season round which pits two of the nation’s best programs head-to-head Wednesday, Thursday and if necessary Saturday.
Gary Picone, LCSC AD, comments
The meeting between the Warriors and Cougars is a re-match of last year’s Super Regional played in southern California, and could be a prelude to a potential match-up in the upcoming World Series as both teams have already qualified for the national tournament.
Picone continues
For ticket information contact the LCSC ticket office at (208) 799-2471 or visit the ticket booth located near the entrance to Harris Field at the Activity Center in Lewiston, Idaho. All games of the Super Regional will be carried live on Talk Radio 950 KOZE-AM and on-line at koze-sports.com.
