Give the Lower Columbia College softball team some credit for picking themselves off the dirt and salvaging a split in the league opener at Clackamas.
 
Clackamas hit a walk-off, mercy-rule Grand Slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 16-5 victory in game one on Thursday March 23^rd.  After falling behind 6-0 in the second game, LCC used a seven run inning to rally for a 9-6 victory.
 
In game one, LCC jumped on top 2-0 after one.  But Clackamas came back with four in the first, two in the second and five in the third to take an 11-5 lead after three innings.  The Devils were blanked the rest of the way.  Katie Rose Whestine hit the grand slam that gave the Cougars the win. Rose Whestine ended the game with eight RBI's.
 
Sam Boyce led the Devils with a 2 for 3 game and four RBI's. Boyce hit a three-run homer in her first game of the season following her stint on the LCC basketball squad.
 
Hannah Rothwell also had a hit and an RBI.
 
Jessica Gibson took the loss up giving up nine hits and six runs in two innings of work.  Christine Robbins struggled giving up 10 runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings, although five of the runs were unearned.
 
It looked like the entire day was going to be a disaster when Clackamas jumped to a 6-0 lead in game two.  Rothwell gave up one in the first, two in the second and three in the third.
 
The Devils didn't quit and rolled a seven run frame in the 4^th to take a 7-6 lead, highlighted by a two run double by Cheyenne Gilbertson.  LCC then added single runs in the 6^th and 7^th to take a 9-6 lead.
 
Rothwell completely turned it around, blanking the Cougars for the final four frames to get the victory.  Rothwell scattered 10 hits.
 
Boyce was 3 for 5 with an RBI.  Mariah Mendez had two hits and a ribbie.  Gilbertson and Shanay Dotson had two RBI's each. Robbins and Aurora Gouley each had two hits. LCC had 13 hits in the game.
 
The Red Devils are 1-1 in league and 3-3 overall as they get ready to play Mt. Hood in Gresham at 12 pm Saturday March 25^th.