(Longview, WA) – In what has been a familiar theme for the 2023 LCC baseball team, the Devils split a four game series against the Columbia Basin Hawks on Saturday and Sunday March 11
th and 12
th at Story Field. Lower Columbia is now 8-8 on the season.
SATURDAY
LCC 11 COLUMBIA BASIN 7
The Devils lost a 4-1 lead when the Hawks scored five runs in the top of the 7
th inning. Devil starter
Michael Schwarz was cruising through six before he ran into trouble in the top of the 7
th. An error, single and hit by pitch with one out ended Schwarz day.
Mac Elske came on and allowed two singles and a double to allow the Hawks to take a lead 5-4.
Lower Columbia responded with a big bottom of the 7
th, scoring six runs.
Nate Gray Jr. had a two-run single to highlight the big response. Gray added another RBI base hit in the bottom of the 8
th.
Jase Schueller got the win in relief with two innings of one-hit ball featuring two strikeouts.
Gray went 4 for 5 with three RBI's and two runs scored.
COLUMBIA BASIN 8 LCC 1
Hawk starter Cameron Soliz handcuffed the Devils in Saturday's second game. Soliz allowed just two hits and no runs in seven innings of work to get the victory.
The Devils had just two hits on the day and the lone run was scored in the bottom of the 8
th on a
Tyler Peterson RBI groundout.
SUNDAY
LCC 5 COLUMBIA BASIN 4
The Devils snapped a 1-1 game with three runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Kyle Parkman drove in the go-ahead run with a single and
Wren Cecil's RBI hit was misplaced by the Hawks right fielder allowing another run to score.
Owen Luchies scattered seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) with five strikeouts and just one walk.
Braeden Munger got the win in relief with 2 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs (none earned), one hit, and four strikeouts.
Parkman had two hits and two RBI's to lead the Devil offense.
COLUMBIA BASIN 7 LCC 5
The Devils couldn't hold a 5-4 lead after five innings. Basin scored one in the sixth to tie it up and two in the top of the 7
th and final inning to get the victory.
Brayden Wells went 4 1/3 allowing four runs on five hits.
Noah Imboden took the loss when he gave up five hits and three runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Cayden Wotipka of LCC had a big game in the series finale. He went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer and three RBI's.
The Devils get back into play on Friday March 17
th for a St. Patrick's day double header at Edmonds. The first game begins at 1 pm. The Devils and Tritons then come to Longview for a 12 noon double header on Saturday March 18
th.
