Freshman Destiny Dunlap belted two grand slams, one in each game, and classmate Alexis Smith added another slam in game two, as Lower Columbia split Saturday's softball doubleheader at Columbia Basin College.
 
The Hawks overcame an early 9-0 deficit to rally and take game one from LCC 11-10. With Jade Behic in command in the circle in the nightcap, the Red Devils bounced back to win 11-1 for the split.
 
The Eastern WA road swing began on Friday for LCC vs Big Bend, also played at the CBC field in Pasco. The Red Devils won the first game 13-4 in six innings over the Vikings. Unfortunately, the game began nearly two hours late due to a miscommunication of the start time with the umpires. That ultimately led to the second game not starting until after 4:00 pm and later being suspended due to darkness with Lower Columbia leading 15-3.
 
In Friday's win Behic tossed the complete game, allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight Vikings. Behic also got the LCC offense jump started with a three-run home run in the third inning.
 
The sophomore from Ewa Beach, Hawaii had three hits, as did Ada Williams (two doubles). Katelyn McGough hit a home run and drove in two runs, Mallory Brown had two hits and two RBI and Angela Sullivan drove in a run with a long sacrifice fly.
 
In the suspended second game, Rylee Peters was in command in the circle for Lower Columbia, pitching all four innings. Smith had a pair of doubles and five RBI. LCC and Big Bend are working together to complete the suspended game in April when the Vikings will be in Chehalis for the NWAC Crossover.
 
Saturday's games started with a bang for the Red Devils, scoring five runs in the first inning keyed by Dunlap's first slam of the day. LCC was up 9-0, until Columbia Basin came back with seven runs in the fourth inning. The Hawks added four more runs in the sixth and held on to win 11-10.
 
McGough had three hits including her second HR of the season. Behic and Williams also had three hits and each had a double. Dunlap added  a single to go with her big blast. Sullivan had a double and RBI and Maddie Curaming drove in a run.
 
After the tough loss, LCC bounced back in a big way for the second game 11-1 win over CBC. Behic was masterful in the circle, scattering four hits and striking out 10 Hawks, before losing the shutout on a wild pitch with two outs in the final inning.
 
The Red Devils broke open a 2-0 game with five runs in the fifth inning. Katie Adkins singled in the first run, before Smith followed with her grand slam to straight away center. Dunlap powered her second slam of the day in the seventh inning, to put the game away.
 
Williams had a solo shot in the first inning, her first of the year. She also added a single and two RBI.
 
Now 2-2 and leading two suspended games in the early season, Lower Columbia heads north this weekend for a double header on March 12 in Bremerton vs Olympic. The Red Devils then move on for another DH on March 13 at Everett. Read Full Article