TWIN FALLS - The College of Southern Idaho Baseball team fell to Western Nevada 5-1 but came back to win game two 7-3 on a huge eighth inning and a dominating pitching performance from Parker Loutensock Friday in Scenic West Athletic Conference play.
The Golden Eagles trailed 3-1 early in the game when Loutensock came in to dominate on the mound. The sophomore pitched 5.1 innings and gave up just two hits and no runs with eight strikeouts.
But he needed a big rally in the eighth by his teammates to secure the win.
After putting a run on the board in the fifth, CSI still trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Trevor Lippard singled to start the charge. Quentin Marcelin walked before a strikeout gave CSI one out. Western Nevada made a pitching change, bringing in Ty Fox. He immediately walked Kody Garvin to load the bases before getting Cody Schmidt to hit into a fielder's choice that threw Lippard out at the plate. The Golden Eagles tied the game on a Jackson Kunz hit by pitch. Cole Walters' two-rbi single gave CSI its first lead and Cody Barkdull added an rbi single to put the Golden Eagles up 7-4. CSI added one more run when Walters scored on a wild pitch.
Loutensock finished it off for CSI getting a pop out and two strikeouts.
Despite a dominant performance in relief by Jeremy Speth in game one, the Golden Eagles couldn't put runs on the board. Speth came in after starting pitcher Cody Barkdull gave up 4 runs in the third inning with one out. Speth got two quick outs and finished the game, giving up no runs on four hits.
CSI couldn't get anything going against Western Nevada starting pitcher Matt Young. Through the first six innings he gave up just two hits. But the Golden Eagles threatened in the seventh. Blake Sanchez started the rally with a leadoff double. After a ground out moved Sanchez to third, Trevor Lippard followed with a rbi triple down the right field line. Quentin Marcelin walked and stole second before Ryan Beard walked to load the bases. The Coyotes brought in Josh Mill to end the CSI rally. The sophomore pitcher got two quick strikeouts to end the game.
Lippard finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.
CSI hosts Western Nevada again Saturday for a doubleheader at Noon.