(Longview, WA) – In a pre-league matchup of teams used to playing each other in the NWAC Championships, the Lower Columbia College Red Devils were able to win three of four games in a home and home series on Saturday March 19
th and Sunday March 20
th.
The Devils and Trojans have met in the NWAC Championship games in 2017 and 2019, both won by LCC. Both teams showed this past weekend that they have the potential to make deep runs again in 2022.
Saturday's double header at Story Field featured outstanding pitching on both sides with both games going 10 innings.
In the first game Saturday, both teams scored single runs in the second inning. After that it was a whole lot of zeros. Red Devil starter
Michael Schwarz went eight innings of three hit ball. He struck out nine and walked just one.
With the international tie-breaker in play, the Devils sacrificed the runner to third and then scored the game winner on a wild pitch.
Eric Luchies led the offense with two hits.
Kyle Fitzgerald drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly.
The pitching continued to be strong in the second game on Saturday. LCC starter
Ryan Pitts went six innings of shutout ball. He allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out five.
Brayden Marcum came on in the 7
th and shut down the Trojans in four sparkling innings. Marcum allowed just one hit with six strikeouts.
Scoreless after nine innings, the Devils advanced placed runner
Tyler Peterson to third on an Everett wild pitch and then he scampered home with the game winner on another wild pitch.
The scene shifted to Funko Field in Everett on Sunday with LCC getting a 5-3 victory.
The Devils got on the board in the first inning when
Kyle Parkman hit an RBI double scoring
Matthew Schwarz who had also doubled.
The Trojans came right back on Red Devil starter
Braeden Munger who allowed five hits in the bottom of the first including a two run homer by Konnor Palmiera.
The Devils tied it up at 2-2 in the second when
Ethan Stacy got hit with the bases loaded.
Aaron Robertson came in to pitch in the bottom of the second and did a great job holding down the Trojans. Robertson went eight innings allowing one run, three hits with six strikeouts.
The Devils took the lead in the 7
th when they scored two runs on two bases loaded wild pitches.
LCC got some insurance in the 8
th when
Daniel Gernon hit a RBI triple.
The series finale went seven innings. The Trojans avoided the sweep with a 4-3 victory.
LCC starter
Cole Bertram went 3 1/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits. He took the loss.
Mac Elske pitched 2 2/3 frames allowing a run on three hits.
Liam Kerr had two hits for LCC.
By taking the series, the Devils are now 12-4 on the season. It will be another home and home series with a strong North Region opponent on Friday March 25
th and Saturday March 26
th. LCC will travel to the Edmonds Tritons on Friday with the twin bill starting at 1 pm. The teams will then get together for a double header Saturday at Story Field beginning at 12 noon.
