The Lower Columbia College softball team went to Spokane and showed they were among one of the best teams in the NWAC.

The Devils had two tough losses against quality opponents, and got the last laugh on two teams they had struggled with all season.

LCC went 2-2 at the tournament and came away with a 7th place finish in the 16-team tournament at the Merkel Softball complex in Spokane on May 19th and 20th.

The Devils opened the tournament with a 3-2 loss to Walla Walla.  Jessica Gibson was outstanding in the circle, scattering 10 hits. After giving up single runs in the first three innings, the sophomore lefty shutdown the Warriors over the final three frames.

Aurora Gouley hit a two-run homer to account for the Devils scoring. Threatening in the sixth inning, the Devils were shutout down by Walla Walla closer Brandi Schoessler.

Cheyenne Gilbertson went 2 for 3 for LCC.

Faced with elimination, the Devils bounced back and ousted South Champion Southwestern Oregon 7-2. The Devils had lost 3 of 4 games with the Lakers in the league season.

Gibson was again sterling in the circle going five innings allowing just five hits and two runs.  Taylor Brooks came on and provided two innings of one-hit, shutout relief.

Mariah Mendez had a big two-run single to get the Devils going in a five-run first inning.  Gilbertson had another two hits and an RBI.  Shanay Dotson and Christine Robbins both had a hit and an RBI.  Sam Boyce also had two hits.

On Saturday, the Devils dealt with rain and mud against Centralia.  LCC didn't worry about it, instead taking a 7-3 victory.

Gibby continued to deal.  She went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts.

Brianna Harvill had a huge game, going 3 for 4 with three RBI's.

Dotson and Boyce each had two hits.  Gibson helped herself and her teammates with a hit and two RBI's.

LCC then had to wait around to play Bellevue in another loser out game.  LCC was up to the challenge.

The Devils scored two runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to take a 4-3 lead, but the Bulldogs scored four runs in the final three innings to get the 7-4 victory.

It was another gritty performance by Gibby as she again shouldered the load in the circle. Gibson struck out seven in the complete game loss.

Dotson (one RBI), Boyce and Robbins (one RBI) each had two hits. Gouley also drove in a run.

Rallying late, Bellevue ace pitcher Payton Gibbs saw the Devils hit several balls hard to the wall.  She was obviously relieved when the game ended as she fell to her knees and the Bulldogs pig piled still three wins away from a potential championship.

In a season that featured terrible weather, many cancelations, limited on-field practice time and basketball player late starts, the Devils didn't use any excuses in Spokane.  Instead they went out and competed, and competed well.