By Myles Bridgewater-Jackson
Sports Information Student Assistant 

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Bradley Lezak capped off a three hit day with an RBI triple in the third to lead Lewis & Clark College to a 2-1 victory over the Whitman Missionaries on Friday. 

In the top of the third inning, sophomore, Ben Beck reached base safely on a one-out single to left. Lezak sent Beck home on his second hit of the game and stretched his knock into an RBI triple. After a strikeout, Eric Hyun plated Lezak with an RBI double to drive the lead to 2-0. The Pioneers would maintain the lead for final seven innings and earn Ryan Strombom (1-7) his first win of the year.

Despite Whitman's 10 hits, the Missionaries failed to score more than a single run in Friday's contest. The L&C pitching staff stranded 12 runners throughout the game, including six in scoring position.

Like Lewis & Clark, Whitman's scoring came in the third inning. In attempt to answer the Pioneers' two-run top half, Jonny Chow and Anthony Lim hit back to back one-out singles and Joseph Zimmer (HBP) loaded up the bases for cleanup hitter, Nick Johnson. Johnson was unable to fully capitalize on the bases loaded opportunity and hit a sac fly to center, scoring one. Strombom bounced back to strike out the next batter and retire the side, with his fourth K of the game.

After Strombom's five complete, pitching duties were handed off to an atypical Pioneer relief staff. Head coach Tom Flynn called on starters Aaron Landecker and Alex Heimbrodt to complete the last four innings in place of a struggling Lewis & Clark bullpen. The two relievers combined for four shutout innings, with Heimbrodt pitching a perfect 1-2-3 ninth.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers look to continue their momentum against Whitman in Saturday's series finale doubleheader in Walla Walla. Game one starts at noon, with game two slotted for 3 p.m.