BOX
SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – Alex St. Pierre pitched
nine complete innings, to help lead the Lewis & Clark baseball
team past the Whitman Missionaries 12-5 on Sunday afternoon at the
Houston Sports Complex, in game three of the Northwest Conference
series.
St. Pierre faced 35 Missionary batters, allowing just five runs
on six hits, while striking out two batters. With the win the
Pioneers improve to 4-9 on the season and 3-6 in NWC play, while
St. Pierre picks up his first complete game victory of the season.
The Missionaries are now 3-14 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
Things got off to a great start for the Pioneers, who posted two
runs in their half of the first inning. Michael Ball started things
off for the Pios, reaching base on a lead-off single that would
eventually allow him to come around and score. Tucker Laurence hit
the single that drove Ball in, after the center fielder moved to
third base on a sacrifice fly by Sami Morgan. An error by the
Whitman pitcher, that saw him try and gun down Eliot Smith, who was
headed to second base, allowed Laurence to advance home.
In the third inning, Ball came around to score another Pio run,
this time on a sacrifice fly by Smith to put L&C up 3-0.
Whitman responded in the top of the fourth inning, posting two runs
on a single by Blaine Mercado, driving in Erik Korsmo and Eric
Tolleson.
Zack Perez and Ball came around to score two runs in the bottom
half of the fourth, increasing the Pioneer lead to 5-2. Perez
crossed home after Morgan hit a shot to center field. Ball scored
another run later that inning, taking advantage of a wild pitch by
the Missionary pitcher.
The bottom of the sixth inning saw the Pioneers plate two more
runs, taking their lead to 7-2. With a single up the middle, Perez
picked up two RBI when both Geoff Wertz and Sam Holman came
charging around the bases to cross home plate.
Smith and senior Jim Bray came around to score in the seventh
inning, continuing the Pioneer assault on the Missionaries. Parker
Dane singled down the left field line, sneaking the ball past the
third baseman, allowing Smith to score from second. Holman flew out
to right field on the next Pio at bat, but it was hit deep enough
for him to pick up an RBI as Bray came trotting in from third.
Whitman tried to come from behind, just as they did in the first
two games of the series, posting one run in the eighth and two in
the top of the ninth, but would not help. The Pioneers increased
their lead to 12-3 in the eighth inning, scoring three runs, which
saw Morgan, Laurence and Smith all come in to score.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, March 20 in a
double-header at Whitworth, with the first game set for noon.
