(Roseburg, OR) – It was exhausting. It was frustrating. It was awesome!
The Lower Columbia Red Devils used incredible pitching to withstand an epic 30 inning day to beat Umpqua 3-1 and 7-4 at the NWAC Super Regionals.
With the Sunday sweep, Lower Columbia will get a chance to go for the NWAC Four-Peat as they qualified for the NWAC Championships at Story Field beginning Thursday May 26
th.
The Devils defeated Skagit Valley 4-3 in the Super Regional opening game to set up the best-of-three showdown with Umpqua. LCC was leading 3-0 in the ninth against the Riverhawks when Umpqua scored four runs in the bottom of the 9
th to take a 4-3 victory.
On Sunday with LCC needing the sweep, the teams put on a marathon of great pitching and hitting that couldn't break through. In the marathon 21 inning game two, 642 pitches were thrown.
LCC 4 SKAGIT VALLEY 3
The Devils jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after two innings.
Daniel Gernon had a big two-run triple.
Justin Stransky added a sacrifice fly.
LCC starter
Brayden Marcum went six solid innings allowing just a solo homer. The Cardinals made it interesting with two runs in the top of the ninth charged to middle reliever
Jadon Williamson.
Aaron Robertson locked it down with two outs to get the save.
UMPQUA 4 LCC 3
The Devils were in great shape to win the first ever meeting between Lower Columbia and Umpqua. LCC was up 3-1 and needed just three outs in the ninth for the win. The Riverhawks stunned the Devils by scoring three runs in the ninth off
Mac Elske.
Ryan Pitts was outstanding for the Devils going 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball. He allowed just one run and struck out seven.
LCC 3 UMPQUA 1 (21 INNINGS)
Eric Luchies hit a first inning sacrifice fly to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. At the time we had no idea what was ahead.
The Riverhawks tied it up with a solo run against Robertson in the 7
th. 13 complete innings of goose eggs after that. LCC starter
Michael Schwarz went 4 1/3 innings allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts. Robertson then worked 7 2/3 innings giving up just the one run with 10 strikeouts.
Jase Schueller then came on and worked five innings of two-hit ball.
Camdem Oram then closed it out with four innings of three hit ball.
The Devils won it with two runs in the top of the 21
st. Gernon and Luchies drove in the runs to put the Devils ahead. Umpqua loaded the bases but Oram was able to escape the jam and force a deciding third game.
By the way, the 21 inning victory was the longest game in LCC Baseball history, eclipsing the 19 inning loss to Edmonds back in March of 2016. It was also the longest NWAC playoff game in history eclipsing the 15-inning Tacoma versus Everett game in the 2017 NWAC tournament in Longview.
LCC 7 UMPQUA 4
The series finale was another pitching dominated game. Both teams threw up zeros through four innings before the Riverhawks plated a solo tally in the 5
th. LCC starter
Brayden Wells was outstanding, giving up just the one run on two hits over five innings.
Down 1-0 with time running out, LCC finally broke through with five runs in the top of the 7
th.
Matthew Lewis had the big hit, a two-run double.
LCC added some insurance with two runs in the 8
th and they needed it. Umpqua scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run on base when
Austin Sheldon got the last out for the save.
Braeden Munger was another hero of the pitching staff as he got the win with three innings of hitless ball.
The series with Umpqua will go down as one of the most heart wrenching testimonies to never giving up.
Thus, the Devils will get a chance at the four-peat. LCC will open the NWAC tournament Thursday against the Everett Trojans at 7:35 pm.
