The Lower Columbia College softball team kept it's two game lead in the race for the NWAC South Region crown by splitting a double heder with Southwestern Oregon on Wednesday May 2nd in Kelso.

The Lakers Marisa Peters used an effective change in holding the Devils to just five hits in a 6-2 SWOC win the opener.  LCC came back to slug two homers in an 11-3 five inning victory in game two.

Peters and Red Devil starter Nizhoni Wheeler were hooked up in a 1-1 pitching duel after five innings.  The Lakers then used small ball to ignite a five run 6th inning. The Devils tried to rally in the 7th but fell short.

Cheyenne Gilbertson led the LCC offense by going 2 for 3 including a long opposite field home run.

The game also featured a scary play at second base as LCC's Airelle Burnett was sliding into second on a steal attempt.  The throw from the catcher was very high and Burnett collided with Laker shortstop Marissa Coleman.  Coleman ended up with a fractured elbow. Burnett was shaken up but remained in the game.

The loss put the pressure on LCC to win the second game and maintain first place.  The Devils relieved the pressure quickly by scoring four runs in the first, four in the second and three in the third.

Gilbertson had another good game at the plate going 2 for 3 with four RBI's including a three run homer.

Kaylee Strahan provided a two-run double.  Shanay Dotson was 2 for 3 with an RBI.  Briana Harvill was 2 for 2 including a run scoring double.

Kami Gray continued to be a Laker-killer by hitting a solo homer to dead center field.  Gray had two homers in the Devils earlier sweep in Coos Bay so all three of her college long balls have come against Southwestern Oregon.

Christine Robbins pitched well for LCC. She had a shutout going into the 5th inning until SWOC scored three in the top of the 5th.  Robbins gets the mercy-rule victory.

The Devils won for the 30th time this season, now 30-10.  The split keeps LCC's two game lead over the Lakers in the division.  Lower Columbia is 18-4 in the South.

LCC is adding in a non-league double header on the schedule as they play the Linfield JV's on Thursday May 3rd in McMinnville. The first game begins at 3 pm.

Lower Columbia resumes league play Saturday May 5th as they host the Clark Penguins in a 12 pm double header at Tam O'Shanter Park in Kelso.