A five-run first inning, including a grand slam, and a three-run seventh inning propelled Shoreline to a wild 15-11 win over Lower Columbia on Saturday. The game was played on the new turf field at Montesano HS, after rains early Saturday left Heerensperger Field in Kelso unplayable.
The game lasted 3:45 minutes, which included a 40-minute lightning delay. A scheduled second game was canceled due to impending darkness.
The story of the day was a narrow strike zone, which led to 22 walks and the slow play - 12 bases on ball were issued by Lower Columbia pitchers and 10 by Shoreline.
After trailing 7-2 in the third inning, LCC scored five runs to tie the game. Kaylee Barnum hit a two-run home run to start the rally. Valeti Fifita later added an RBI single, Kinzey Williams' hot smash was mishandled in the infield and Emily Churchill had a bases loaded walk to account for the runs to tie it.
Shoreline got the five runs back in the 4th using two singles, four walks and a hit batter to go up 12-7.
Saydie Harris popped a three-run bomb for LCC in the fifth inning, scoring Bryanna Soares and Fifita who had singled. That made it 12-10, before the Devils drew within a run in the sixth inning when Taylor Alto led off with a double and scored with two outs on a Kinzey Williams infield hit.
But a Red Devil error helped the Dolphins score three runs (two unearned) in the seventh inning and ended the scoring.
Trinity Naugle was the losing pitcher, going the first four innings. Ada Williams relieved, allowing just one earned run on two hits over the final three innings. It was her first college pitching appearance.
Harris had two hits and three RBI, while Fifita, Kinzey Williams and Barnum each had two hits and two RBI. Montesano grad Lindsay Pace hammered a double in her return home.
The Red Devils are now 3-1 on the season. Next up is five games Friday-Saturday, March 6-7, in the NWAC Inter-Regional at the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) in Lacey, WA. LCC opens play on RAC field #3 vs. Treasure Valley on March 6 at 3:00 PM.
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