Warriors advance to semifinals of NAIA Baseball Opening Round with win over Keiser Seahawks

Then, Bryce Johnson raced around third and slid home as the Seahawks chose not to challenge Johnson's advance with a throw home. The Warriors led 7-3.

Nguyen took the second pitch of the game from Seahawks starter Austin Taylor deep to right-center field for a leadoff home run. Keiser evened the game at 1-1 in the top of the second before the Warriors got to work, using a series of singles and productive groundouts to advance runners and score runs.

Canfield's mindset

Canfield has had an up-and-down season, but over the past eight starts has permitted no more than three runs a start.

That was the case again today. Despite the senior starter from Bothell, Wash., not having his best stuff, as he put it, Canfield stayed steady, pitching out of jams and limiting Keiser's offensive output to three runs through five innings on his watch.

Canfield struck out three and walked one while allowing seven hits.

"He actually puts a little too much pressure on himself at times, but he's been in this situation before, and he showed his experience today," Robbins said. "He's been our Day 1 guy all year. And there's a reason for it, and it's his mentality, so he just did a heck of a job for us."

Canfield said that he maintains the competitive mindset of being better at baseball than the hitters in front of him has helped him, especially in difficult situations.

"As a starter, you'll start off high, you'll get a lot of good W's in there, and then we get hit around, and then you just got to learn to lock back in," Canfield. "These last seven or eight starts, (I'm) just remembering who I am, remembering I've got a good defense behind me, and hitters that will pick me up when needed."

One of those key defenders was shortstop Payton Smith, who made several dazzling plays in the field, backhanding grounders and flinging them to Ryan Prescott at first.

Injury notes

Senior Noah Weintraub was back in center field after missing the conference tournament.

Catcher Cade Westerlund continues to see time behind the plate while senior catcher Bulla Ephan deals with a hand injury. Robbins said Ephan will not play in the Opening Round.

Hello old friend

The Warriors are thoroughly familiar with Hope International. The Royals have ventured to Lewiston for the Opening Round each of the last two years and both times returned over a week later for the World Series — advancing instead of LC State.

Two years ago, Hope International won it all, while last year they lost to eventual national champion LSU Shreveport twice.

A victory over HIU would not only advance LC to Wednesday's final, it would also represent a vote of confidence as to the Warriors' chances of an extended postseason stay.

Reed said that he likes the way that the Warriors prepare — focusing on an overarching physical and mental approach, then picking apart opposing starters' splits and getting deep in the analytical weeds.

"We're just ready to go in and, more than anything, just out-mindset them," Reed said. "Be ready to just attack the baseball and to leave it all out on the field."

Keiser 010 110 000—3 8 2

LCSC 130 010 20X—7 11 0

Taylor, Hernandez (8) and Nadal; Canfield, Lennartson (6) and Westerlund.

W — Canfield; L — Taylor.

Keiser hits — Brooks 2 (2B), Shaver 2, Balart, Garcia, Collado, Doezie.

Lewis-Clark State hits — Reed 3 (2B), Nguyen 2 (HR), Westerlund 2, Jaha, Madariaga, Johnson, Smith.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.