After pounding the softball while winning two of its first three games at the NWAC Championships in Spokane, the bats went quiet late Friday as Lower Columbia was eliminated by Walla Walla 9-2.
With the loss, Lower Columbia placed in a tie for seventh in the 16-team tournament championship. The Red Devils finished 24-20 overall for the season.
Over its four games Lower Columbia scored 39 runs, led by the offensive outburst of
Sunny Bennion. The freshman left fielder hit 7-13 with three home runs and 11 RBI for the tourney.
Game 1: Lower Columbia 15, Columbia Basin 14
With Bennion going 4-4 with a pair of three-run HRs, a two-run 2B and eight RBI, LCC looked safe with a 15-9 lead headed to the bottom of the 7
th inning. But the Hawks didn't die.
Columbia Basin scored five runs in the final inning, before
Rylee Peters entered in relief for the Red Devils to record the last two outs and hold off the Hawks.
LCC had other hitting stars, led by
Jade Behic with three hits, including a home run and three RBI.
Mallory Brown,
Ada Williams and
Katie Adkins all had two hits.
Game 2: Bellevue 15, Lower Columbia 10
LCC jumped up 4-0 over the Bulldogs in the first inning, keyed by
Katelyn McGough and Behic hitting back-to-back solo homers to open the game.
But Bellevue answered with eight runs in the 1
st inning, with help from a pair of LCC infield miscues. The Bulldogs threatened to run away to a mercy rule win, going up 15-4 after three innings.
But the Devils battled and chipped away, drawing within 15-10 on another McGough blast and Peters two-run shot to centerfield. That was as close as they could get and the Bulldogs prevailed to move to the quarterfinals.
Peters was 3-4 with four RBI, Brown 2-4 with two RBI, and Bennion and Williams both hit 2-4.
Game 3: Lower Columbia 12, Edmonds 3 (five innings)
Needing a win to stay alive, LCC got a masterful performance in the circle from Behic. The sophomore ace fanned five Tritons, allowing just three hits and one earned run.
Brown's bases clearing double gave Lower Columbia the 1
st inning lead and then Bennion belted another three-run home run in the 2
nd inning putting LCC up 8-3.
A McGough two-run single and a pair of Peters RBI singles helped LCC to the final advantage.
Game 4: Walla Walla 9, Lower Columbia 2
Williams laced a two-run double in the first inning to give LCC the early lead. But the Red Devils would not score again.
Facing a Warrior team averaging 15 runs per game, Peters was strong early as LCC headed to the 4
th inning leading 2-1. Bennion gave defensive support with a sprinting, reaching catch near the foul line in LF, leading to a 7-6-4 double play to end the third inning.
But the relentless WW attack came alive with long balls in the 4
th and 5
th innings to take control. A 5
th inning WW grand slam made the score 7-2 and the Red Devils could not comeback.
McGough, Behic and
Emily Panush all doubled for the Devils.
