(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia College baseball team summonsed all the grit and fortitude they could muster in taking three of four games with the Clark Penguins on Saturday and Sunday April 13 and 14^th.
 
A late reversed call kept LCC from tying up the series opener, a 2-1 loss.  Down 5-0 after a half inning in game two, the Devils rallied for a big 8-6 victory.  Sunday in Vancouver, LCC came up with a pair of victories, 4-1 and 10-2 to take the key West Region series.
 
Game One in Longview – Clark 2 Lower Columbia 1
 
It was a pitching duel between Clark's Eddie Dwyer and LCC's Hunter Lutman.  The Penguins scratched out a single run off Lutman in the second inning and then plated an unearned run in the 5^th.  Chayse Oxborrow came on in relief and was lights out, allowing just two hits in 4 1/3 innings.
 
Down 2-0 in the sixth, the Devils broke through with an RBI double by Cayden Wotipka to make it 2-1. 
 
The fateful play came in the 8^th inning when Alex Hartnett hit a hooking low fly ball to right field. Clark right fielder Quentin Anguay reached down to attempt the catch and then looked behind him for the ball. The ball ended up in the glove, but the base umpire ruled he didn't catch it. Wotipka scored what looked like the tying run. Clark head coach Mark Magdaleno asked the base umpire to check with his partner and the home plate umpired ruled the catch was made.
 
With two on and no outs in the 9^th, the Devils struck out, flied out and popped out to end the game.
 
Wotipka went 2 for 3 with the Devils lone RBI.
 
Game Two in Longview – Lower Columbia 8 Clark 6
 
It was a nightmare start for LCC in the second game at Story Field. Starter Jack DeDonato saw five runs come in and he was chased after getting two outs. Only two of the runs were earned because of a game opening infield throwing error.  DeDonato walked two and one of the runs came in on a wild pitch.
 
Justin Taylor's two-run single brought in reliver Hunter Grasser who, after a walk, came up with a big strikeout to end the inning.
 
Grasser held the Penguins down until the Red Devil offense could get going.  Wotipka hit a solo homer in the third to make it 5-1.
 
The Penguins thought they had a two-run homer from Josh Schleicardt, but he was called out for missing first base. Instead it was an RBI out.
 
LCC erupted for five runs in the bottom of the 4^th to tie the game 6-6.  Two walks were followed by a Hartnett two RBI double.  Hartnett scored on a Clark infield error and then Wotipka came through again with an RBI single.
 
Hartnett drove in another run with a single in the 5^th giving the Devils their first lead of the game.  Owen Cummins, who missed the first game after suffering a gash to the chin during batting practice, came through with a run scoring single in the 6^th giving the Devils an 8-6 lead.
 
The bullpen locked it up.  Kaden Harris was outstanding with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.  Josh Mejia got the save with a perfect final inning.
 
Game Three in Vancouver – Lower Columbia 4 Clark 1
 
Red Devil pitching was outstanding in this one.  Five Devil pitchers combined to hold down Clark. 
 
The game was tight.  It was scoreless through five frames. LCC drew first blood on a 6^th inning Wotipka RBI single. Carson Hayes plated another run in the 7^th with a single. The Devils put it away with two runs in the top of the 8^th.
 
Starter Noah Imboden was effective with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless work.  Hayden Morrison followed by blanking Clark for 1 2/3 innings.  Aaron Platner went two innings. Carson Kruckman gave up a hit in one inning.  Joey Pearson notched the save with two strikeouts sandwiched around a walk.
 
Royce Vandine was 3 for 3.
 
Game Four in Vancouver – Lower Columbia 10 Clark 2
 
With a chance to get the series, the Devils offense kept it up and the pitching staff was stellar. Starter Owen Luchies went five innings allowing just two base hits and no runs. Middleman Ryan McClaskey gave up a pair of runs in one inning.  Stephen Hammergren closed it out with a pair of strikeouts.
 
LCC blew it open with five runs in the third inning. The highlight was Cummins two-run double.  Two Clark errors and a run scoring wild pitch fueled the uprising. Another Clark error helped LCC score two more in the 5^th and then another miscue led to a Devil run in the 6^th.  Wren Cecil drove in a run in the 7^th and then scored on a passed ball.
 
Wotipka capped off an incredible weekend by going 4 for 5 in the series finale.  He was 10 for 16 with four RBI's in the weekend series. Cummins was 3 for 4 with two RBI's. Hartnett hit the ball hard without a hit to show for it but he did drive in three runs. Brayden Oram was 2 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored.
 
By taking 3 of 4, the Devils are now 8-4 in the West Division, along in third place.  Clark falls to 7-5, tied with Centralia for 4^th.
 
LCC will have the division bye this weekend. LCC will host the George Fox JV's in a single game on Tuesday April 16^th. Game time at Story Field is 4 pm.
 
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