The Lewis-Clark State Warriors are just one win away from punching their ticket to the Avista NAIA World Series — and they made a powerful statement Tuesday night to get there.

In front of a fired-up crowd of 565 at Harris Field, senior pitcher Mason Goodson delivered a masterful seven-inning complete game, and the offense was relentless in a 10-0 mercy-rule shutout of Hope International. The win puts LC State (43-7) in the driver's seat of their Opening Round pod, with a chance to clinch a World Series berth tonight.

For veteran players like senior center fielder Noah Weintraub, the moment isn't lost. "We're not satisfied at all," Weintraub said. "We know where we want to be. We want to keep stepping forward and get to where we know we can be and need to be."

The Warriors' approach all season has been simple — treat every opponent as "nameless" and focus entirely on their own preparation and execution. But Tuesday night carried extra weight. Hope International has been a thorn in LC State's side, having made five trips to Lewiston over the past two years and advancing to the World Series at the Warriors' expense each time.

Last year on this very date, the Royals handed LC a crushing 12-1 mercy-rule loss that started a chain reaction, ending with the Warriors being eliminated the next day. Tuesday's victory wasn't just a win — it was redemption.

"We talked about it before the game. It doesn't matter who we're playing," Weintraub admitted. "But it definitely feels good to get revenge, like we did there and from last year and in the years past."

Goodson was in control from the first pitch, mixing his pitches with precision and keeping Hope International's hitters off balance all night. His complete-game effort was exactly what the Warriors needed to preserve their bullpen for the stretch run.

Even with senior captain Bulla Ephan sidelined by injury, his leadership was felt. Before the game, he addressed the team with a clear message, according to head coach Jeremiah Robbins. "I'm sure some of those returners know who they are playing," Robbins said. "But the strong message from our leader was, 'We're playing baseball. We've got to find a way to get to tomorrow' — and they did that, with the eyes of guys who were going after something."

Now, the Warriors wait. Hope International (38-14) will face Keiser in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m., with the winner taking on LC State at 6 p.m. tonight. The formula is simple for the Warriors: one more win, and they're heading back to the World Series.