Tacoma and Lower Columbia got together for a key NWAC West Region double header at Story Field on Monday April 16th.

Take away two innings, the Devils outscored the Titans 13-1.  But those two innings allowed the Titans to get a big road split.

Tacoma rallied for four runs in the 8th and three runs in the 9th to win the first game 7-6.  LCC came back in the nightcap to roll a seven spot in the bottom of the 6th for a 7-1 victory.

The Devils were cruising in the first game as Mitch Lines allowed no runs and just three hits through six innings.  Ryan Kaser came on in relief and got out of a rainy 7th inning jam.  But following a seven minute rain delay, Kaser walked the first three batters he faced in the 8th and Tacoma proceeded to tie the game with four runs in the frame.  Derek Downey then came on to try and minimize the damage.  Downey then got into more trouble in the 9th and Tacoma plated three more runs to take a 7-4 lead.

The Devils didn't quit and they scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th and had the tying run on second when Logan Gerling got the final out for the victory.

Ricky Muzzy went 2 for 5 with three RBI's including a solo homer in the 4th that broke up a no-hitter by Tacoma starter Nate Packard.  GJ Hurst followed with a double and he was driven home by DeShawn Johnson's single. 

LCC used a bases loaded hit by pitch to JT Strickler and a bases loaded walk to Sam Trend-Beacom to up the Devil lead to 4-0.

After the tough loss, the Devils handed the ball to Yancy Bird in the seven inning nightcap and Bird was dominating through three innings, striking out six.  Bird was touched for a run in the 4th when he walked a batter uncorked two wild pitches. Bird gave up just one hit with seven strikeouts in his four innings of work.

Travis Paynter came on and was sparkling in relief, allowing just three hits and no runs in three innings to get the victory.

Up 1-0 in the sixth, Tacoma tried to add on but LCC center fielder Kyle Sandstrom gunned out Jon Burghardt at home trying to score on a Justin VanDeBrake single.

That's when LCC exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the 6th. TCC starter Justin Simanek hit Strickler and then gave up a single to Trend-Beacom. Muzzy had an RBI
double and then Trend-beacom and Muzzy both came in on wild pitches. Drew Barlow provided an RBI single and two more runs came on wild pitches.

Trend-Beacom had two hits and two RBI's. Muzzy and Barlow both had two hits.

The split puts pressure on Lower Columbia to win two games at Tacoma on Tuesday April 17th in order to win the season series.  The first game is slated to begin at 2 pm, weather permitting.

LCC's win in the second game snapped Tacoma's 10 game win streak.