Spicer records first home run, but Warriors fall to LCSC
March 23, 2007
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Sophomore Craig Spicer recorded his first home run of the season and knocked in a pair of runs, but Corban fell to the NAIA's No. 1-ranked Lewis-Clark State today at Harris Field in Lewiston.(Photo courtesy of William Scott Photography) |
LEWISTON, Idaho – Sophomore Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.) knocked in both Warrior runs, including his first home run of the season, but Corban's baseball team fell to the NAIA's No. 1-ranked Lewis-Clark State, 12-2, at Harris Field on Friday en route to handing the Warriors their first loss in a week.
Coming into today's game, Corban had been on the winning end in each of its last four games, including a three-game series sweep over fellow Cascade Collegiate Conference member Oregon Tech last weekend.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, Corban ran into the nation's top-ranked team in Lewis-Clark State and fell behind quickly, as the host Warriors scored 11 runs in the first three innings.
Senior left-handed starter Brett Timmerman (Medford, Ore.) pitched the first 3.0 innings for Corban, allowing 11 runs (all earned) on 10 hits. Lewis-Clark State put four runs on the board in the opening inning, a single run in the 2nd inning, and a six spot in the third inning before Timmerman gave way to junior reliever Scott Flux (Salem, Ore.).
Despite trailing by four runs, Spicer put Corban on the board in the second inning with a home run to left field -- his first of the season and first in a Warrior uniform -- but that was all that Corban could muster off Lewis-Clark State pitching until the next-to-last inning.
In the eighth inning, Spicer recorded his third and final hit of the game -- a single to second base -- that scored senior Ryan Heil (Medford, Ore.) from third following back-to-back hits by Heil and fellow senior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) for Corban's final run of the game.
With Flux on the mound, the right-hander held the mighty Warrior offense at bay allowing a mere run on 1 hit, while fanning 3 LCSC hitters. Flux pitched 4.0 innings before handing the ball over to senior closer Scott Fitchett (Sandpoint, Idaho) for the final inning of work. The 6-foot-3 right-hander held Lewis-Clark State scoreless despite allowing one Warrior hit in the final stanza.
Spicer led the Warriors' hitting barrage with a 3-for-4 performance that included a run scored and 2 RBIs, while junior Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) went 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of singles. Four other Warriors -- freshman Josh Warner (Independence, Ore.), Heil, Frantz, and junior Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) -- each recorded a hit for Corban. Timmerman was saddled with his fourth loss of the season after falling behind early in the first of three games this weekend against the nation's top-ranked team.
Lewis-Clark State was led by Beau Mills' 3-for-4 performance with a run scored and four runs batted in. Meanwhile, six other Warriors got at least one hit off Corban pitching, as Chris Kissock went 3.0 innings on the hill, allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits to remain unbeaten in six decisions this season.
With the loss, Corban falls to 9-13-1 overall, while Lewis-Clark State improves to 20-2 on the season. These same two teams return to action on Saturday, March 24th, in an afternoon double header beginning at 12:00 p.m. in Lewiston, Idaho.
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