(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia College baseball team closed out the pre-Region schedule by taking three of four games from the defending champion Linn Benton Roadrunners.
The games are more important moving forward as West Region play begins Saturday April 1
st.
Saturday March 25th at Story Field
Game #1- Lower Columbia 2 Linn Benton 0
Michael Schwarz and
Joey Pearson combined on a five-hit shutout. Schwarz went 7 1/3 innings to get the victory. The sophomore lefty allowed just four hits, walking three and striking out four.
Pearson came on with one out in the eighth inning and gave up a walk and a double putting the tying run in scoring position. But he got out of the jam with a fly out to right. Pearson then came up with a clean inning in the ninth to get the save.
The Devils got all of the offense they needed in the 4
th inning on an
Easton Amundson RBI triple and a
Kyle Parkman RBI single.
Lower Columbia had just five hits off Roadrunner pitching but it was enough to get the victory.
Game #2 – Linn Benton 3 Lower Columbia 1
The Devils offense was held down by the strong pitching of LB starter Dylan Rush who allowed just one run over 6 2/3 innings.
LCC starter
Braeden Munger had a rough first inning as the 'Runners scored two runs on three hits. Camdem Oram entered the game in the second inning and kept the Devils in the game with six strong innings allowing one run.
LCC rallied in the 7
th and final inning. With two outs, LCC got an RBI single from
Tyler Peterson to break up the shutout. With the tying runs in scoring position, Devils catcher
Justin Stransky was rung up on a called third strike that appeared to be out of the strike zone. The Devils RBI leader was left at the plate with an incredulous look.
Carson Hayes had two of the Red Devils five hits in the game.
Sunday March 26th at Roadrunner Field in Albany, OR
Game #3 – Lower Columbia 5 Linn Benton 3
The Devils came up with two runs in the 8
th and one in the 9
th to rally for the victory.
LB started fast with a 3-0 lead after two innings. LCC starter
Owen Luchies settled down after that and went seven innings allowing just the three early runs.
In the top of the 5
th, LCC had a two out rally. Stransky had an RBI single and Amundson collected a bases loaded walk making it 3-2 Linn Benton.
Another two-out rally for the Devils in the 8
th.
Matthew Lewis came up with a clutch RBI single to tie up the game. Peterson then gave the Devils their first lead with an RBI single. Parkman's RBI sac fly in the 9
th gave LCC a 5-3 lead.
Carson Kruckman made it hold up with two outstanding innings of relief for the victory. Kruckman allowed just two hits and no runs.
Game #4 – Lower Columbia 5 Linn Benton 2
Brayden Wells and
Mac Elske split the pitching and led the Devils to the series victory. Wells went three innings allowing two runs and four hits. Elske got the victory with four solid innings allowing just two hits with three strikeouts.
The big hit in the game was
Royce Vandine's two-run double in the third inning.
Tyler Reese had earlier drove in a run on a fielder's choice.
Vandine added an RBi single in the 5
th as he went 3 for 4 with three RBI's in the game.
Cayden Wotipka's RBI single in the 7
th capped off the LCC scoring.
The Devils closed out non-league play with a 14-10 record against many of the top teams in the NWAC. West Region play will begin Saturday April 1
st with a double-header at league newcomer Olympic in Bremerton. Game time is at 1 pm.
The two teams will be at Story Field on April 2
nd for a twin bill beginning at 12 pm.
