(Pasco, WA) – The #1 Lower Columbia baseball team battled to a four-game split at #3 Columbia Basin, the final preparation for West Region play. League action begins on Friday March 29
th with a home doubleheader against Centralia.
Game One Friday March 22 – Columbia Basin 5 LCC 3
The Hawks were clinging to a 1-0 lead when LCC tied up the game with a
Gunnar Shiotani RBI single in the top of the 8
th. CBC then countered with four runs in the bottom of the 8
th to take a 5-1 lead. It could have been worse as CBC had three more runs taken off the board when they batted out of order.
LCC didn't quit. The Devils plated two runs in the top of the ninth and had the tying runs in scoring position when pinch hitter
Jake Smith flew out to right field.
LCC starter
Hunter Lutman allowed just one run and one hit in 4 1/3 innings. He worked around five walks and struck out seven. Reliver
Aaron Platner was also effective until the Hawks had their big 8
th inning. Platner went 3 2/3 innings allowing three hits, two earned runs and six strikeouts.
Royce Vandine had two of the Devils six hits in the game. Shiotani went 1 for 2 with three walks and the clutch RBI in the 8
th. Owen Cummings drove in a run and walked twice.
Game Two Friday March 22 – LCC 9 Columbia Basin 2
The Devils and Hawks were tied 2-2 after nine innings. In the top of the 10
th with a tiebreaker runner at second, the Devils put down an unsuccessful bunt and the runner was thrown out at third. Then the game broke open for LCC. Two walks and a hit by pitch followed by a
Langan Naylor RBI hit got things going.
Wren Cecil drew a bases loaded walk. Vandine hit a long double to drive in three runs. Cummings then single home another run.
Vandine was 3 for 4 with two walks and three RBI's.
LCC starter
Jack DeDonato went four innings. He allowed four hits, two runs and struck out 3.
Hunter Grasser was outstanding with six innings of one-hit relief to get the victory. He struck out five Hawks and did not walk a batter.
Game Three Saturday March 23 - LCC 7 Columbia Basin 1
The Devils were in control throughout. Starter
Owen Luchies got the victory with five innings of shutout ball. Luchies allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out two.
Middle reliever
Stephen Hammergren was also very effective. He worked around four walks in three innings. Hammergren allowed one run and two hits and struck out five.
Joey Pearson made his season debut and pitched great in his hometown. Pearson struck out two in a clean 9th inning.
Cummings was 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Nate Gray Jr. went 3 for 5. Cecil had two hits.
Game Four Saturday March 23 – Columbia Basin 4 LCC 3
The Devils scored two runs in the top of the 7
th inning to take a 3-2 lead but the Hawks plated two in the bottom of the frame to close out the scoring. Matt Bailey had a clutch RBI hit to give LCC the lead and he later scored on a passed ball. But the Hawks hit two doubles and a single off
Carson Kruckman, who took the loss.
Noah Imboden had a solid outing with 4 2/3 innings of five-hit pitching. He gave up just one run.
Josh Mejia didn't let three walks in 1 2/3 innings hurt him. He didn't allow a run and struck out two.
The Devils were held to just five hits, two by Naylor.
LCC finishes the non-league portion of the schedule at 19-4.
After the two games on Friday at Story Field, the series with Centralia will conclude with a twin bill on the Centralia campus Saturday March 30
th at 1 pm.
