(Kelso, WA) – The Lower Columbia College softball team opened the season and christened the turf on Saturday and Sunday February 17th and 18^th.
 
A scheduled President's Day doubleheader with Walla Walla was postponed due to weather.
 
Saturday February 17^th
 
Lower Columbia 10 Pierce 1
 
The Devils began the 2024 campaign with a 10-1 victory over Pierce.
 
It took a couple of innings to get the offense going, but once they did it was all that sophomore pitcher Alli Heater would need.  Heater went six innings and allowed just one run and five hits.  She fielded her position like a champ and kept the Raiders offense off balance.
 
Lexi Grumbois got her college career off to a flying start. The LCC leadoff hitter went 3 for 4 with two runs scored.
 
Joelie Eder also had a sparkling debut with three hits and three RBI's.  She had two doubles in the game.
 
Sawyer Stenson and Leanna Russell each had a two-run double.  Seven of the 13 Red Devil hits were for extra bases. Grumbois had a double and a triple.  Kaydence Mackin had a pinch-hit double and Raychel Squibb also had a triple.
 
Eder's two-run double ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Wenatchee Valley 12 Lower Columbia 4
 
After the win over Pierce, the Devils turned around and gave up nine runs in the first inning against Wenatchee Valley.  The Knights plated nine runs on six hits against LCC starter Sadie Knutson.
 
Mackin came out of the pen and settled down after giving up three runs in the second. Mackin ended up shutting the Knights down in the third and the fourth.  Alexis Moore also pitched a clean inning in the 5^th.
 
LCC was no-hit over four innings until they broke through with four runs in the bottom of the 5^th. Maliyah Twitty got an RBI single and then Grumbois hit the first home run of the season, a three-run blast to centerfield.
 
Sunday February 18^th
 
Lower Columbia 12 Wenatchee Valley 4
 
Turnabout is fair play and the Devils came back on Sunday and beat Wenatchee Valley by the same 12-4 score.
 
LCC had a big first inning with five runs on four hits.  Squibb had a run scoring double and Teeghan Reams slapped an RBI single. The Devils added three more in the second inning on Eder's three-run shot. Eder had four RBI's in the game.
 
Reams ended the game early with a two-run double in the 5^th.  Reams, an All-American as a freshman last season, went 2 for 3 with three RBI's.
 
Squibb was 2 for 3 with two RBI's.  Grumbois went 3 for 4.
 
Heater was again solid in the circle with five innings, scattering seven hits with four strikeouts.
 
Lower Columbia 16 Pierce 4
 
Reams went four innings and Knutson closed it out with a great bounce-back inning as the Devils flexed their muscles against the Raiders.
 
LCC pounded out 16 hits.  Brooklyn Loose was the star of this one as she went 3 for 3 with three RBI's.
 
Eder had another solid game at the plate going 2 for 4 with four RBI's.
 
Eight Red Devils players had an RBI.  Katelyn Swanson had two of them.
 
Monday February 19^th
 
The scheduled twin bill with Walla Walla was postponed as the outfield grass had taken a beating during the games on Saturday and Sunday.  Of course, the new turf infield at Heerensperger Field held up well but the decision to cancel the game was done with player safety in mind.
 
The Devils and Warriors are hoping to play the games on the Friday prior to the NWAC Cross Over tournament in Yakima in April.
 
Next action for the Devils is Friday February 23^rd, a 1 pm doubleheader at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon.