Lewis-Clark State (37-15) got things going in the top of the first, as Kevin Lovelace was hit by a pitch and Brian Gaylord hit a grounder down the first base line that was misplayed and ended up in right field. After Gino Casini drew a two-out walk to load the bases, Billy Silvestri laced a single to left field that scored Lovelace and Gaylord, and Connor Moore drove in Casini with a single.
The Warriors added another run in the fourth inning when Garrett Patterson reached on a single up the middle and scored on a double to right-center field by Lovelace. Lewis-Clark State threatened to score more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Redhawk outfielders Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) and Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) each gunned down Warrior runners trying to score.
Lewis-Clark State broke the game open in the top of the seventh inning, once again scoring runs with two outs. After a double play erased one baserunner, Silvestri drew a walk and Moore singled to left field. A double by pinch hitter Braxton Miller drove in Silvestri, and a Redhawk fielding error allowed Moore to score. Lovelace would earn his second RBI with a single that drove in Miller to extend the Warriors' advantage to 7-0.
Seattle U finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.) drew a leadoff walk and Narby followed with a single to left field. Pinch hitter Matt Comer (Bozeman, Mont.) laced a double off the wall in left field, scoring Kincaid. Warrior relief pitcher Jorge Sanchez stopped the Redhawk scoring threat with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.) led off with a single down the left field line, and Kalalau followed with a two-run home run over the wall in left field. Once again, Lewis-Clark State used the strikeout to stop the Redhawk momentum, as Austin Pentecost ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
In total, Seattle U was held to five hits by five different Warrior pitchers while striking out 14 times during the game. Meanwhile, Lewis-Clark State collected 13 hits during the contest, with Lovelace, Alfonso Casillas, Moore, and Patterson each notching two hits during the afternoon. Sanchez was credited with the victory, while Max Whieldon (Trabuco Hills, Calif.) was stuck with the loss after allowing eight hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Seattle University (20-27-1) will conclude the 2011 season with a four-game series at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, Calif. The series will consist of a doubleheader Friday, May 20, beginning at 11 a.m. and another twinbill Sunday, May 22, starting at 10 a.m. Live audio for all four games will be available on GoSeattleU.com.