(Oregon City, OR) -
Brooklyn Loose hit a two-run home run in the 9
th inning to break a 12-12 tie, then moments later
Emma Langsi belted a grand slam to pile on four more runs, as Lower Columbia beat Clackamas 18-12 on Tuesday in Oregon City.
The game included three rain delays and took over 3 ½ hours to complete. The Red Devils, ranked first in the NWAC Softball Coaches poll, are now 17-0 on the season.
For Loose it was her third home run as part of an epic 4-5 day at the plate, also doubling and driving in six runs.
It was a day when the Red Devil pitching staff collectively struggled with its control, with three pitchers combining to walk 11 Cougar hitters and hit one other. Clackamas led the game 10-7 after scoring nine runs in the 4
th inning.
But
Ava Eib, in relief, pitched a strong 6
th and 7
th innings giving up just one run. That allowed the Red Devil hitters to score three in the 7
th and get the game into extra innings.
Zoey Hughes was the planned starter in game two, but Coach
Traci Fuller brought the freshman out of the pen in the 8
th and she shut the door on the Cougars, while Loose and Langsi added their big blasts to complete the comeback win.
Lexi Grumbois was 3-6 and her single started the last inning rally. Red Devils with two hits included
Gabi Silveria (one RBI),
Hailey Brooks (two 2B, two RBI),
Allison Baumgart and
Cerenity Fake (2B).
Shaz Ancheta also added a double to the 19-hit attack.
Lower Columbia is on the road on Friday at Mt. Hood, which is a matchup of the top-ranked teams in the conference. On Saturday, LCC returns home for a noon DH vs Centralia.
The scheduled second game with Clackamas was postponed due to impending darkness. It will be made up at a date to be announced.
