Playing their first games since being selected number one in the NWAC softball coaches' poll, the Red Devils rode the outstanding pitching of
Cerenity Fake and
Zoey Hughes and swept Clark 16-0 and 8-0 on Saturday. The two freshman hurlers combined to allow only three hits, gave up no walks and fanned 17 Clark hitters over the two games.
For Hughes it was five innings of perfection, her second spotless outing this season in the 8-0 win.
The two-game hitting stars for Lower Columbia were shortstop
Allison Baumgart (two home runs, a triple, five hits and five RBI) and outfielder
Hailey Brooks (two home runs, three hits, a sac bunt and seven RBI).
With the wins, Lower Columbia is now 12-0 on the season and 4-0 in South Region play. It's a busy week ahead as LCC hosts Southwestern Oregon on Tuesday at 3:00 pm, hosts Umpqua on Wednesday at noon and travels on Friday to Aberdeen to meet Grays Harbor.
Game 1 – Lower Columbia 16, Clark 0 (five innings): Fake was outstanding in the circle, going the distance for the three-hit shutout while striking out nine, issuing no walks and allowing three Clark hits. Fake currently leads the NWAC with a 0.41 ERA in her four outings.
Baumgart was 3-3 with a double, triple, home run and three RBI.
Brooklyn Loose drove in four runs while going 3-4 with a single, triple and HR.
Lexi Grumbois added three hits, including a double. Brooks hit a solo home run and also plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
Rylee Brown and
Joelie Eder both collected a pair of hits and
Savannah Hawkins had a two-RBI single.
Game 2 – Lower Columbia 8, Clark 0 (five innings): Hughes was dominant in the perfecto, striking out eight Penguin hitters while throwing just 64 pitches (47 strikes). The win extends her record to 5-0 with a 0.59 earned run average, second behind Fake in the NWAC.
Brooks led the charge at the plate with a three-run home run (8
th of the season) and a two-run single. Baumgart homered and singled and drove in two runs. Loose, Eder,
Dani Ambriz and
Gabi Silveria added base hits and a runs scored.