The Lower Columbia Red Devils softball team opened their 2026 season with a dominant doubleheader sweep over the Pierce Raiders on February 15 in Kelso, WA.

Game 1: Lower Columbia 10, Pierce 0 (5 Innings)

The Red Devils started the season with a shutout, run-ruling the Raiders 10-0 in five innings. Zoey Hughes was commanding in the circle to earn the win, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four.

The offense wasted no time supporting her, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run by Shaz Ancheta. Lower Columbia continued to build their lead throughout the game, culminating in a four-run fourth inning highlighted by a bases-clearing, three-run double from Rylee Brown. Kendall Humphrey was perfect at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Pierce pitcher Karen Cervantes-Macias took the loss after allowing six runs over three innings.

Game 2: Lower Columbia 14, Pierce 6 (5 Innings)

The bats stayed hot in the second game as Lower Columbia completed the sweep with a 14-6 victory. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Red Devils exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to seize control. The massive rally featured RBI doubles from Jamie Haase and Seyah Lindersmith, along with run-scoring singles by Ava Eib and Danika Hallom.

Eib also picked up the win on the mound, striking out five batters over four innings of work.

Pierce attempted a late comeback, scoring four runs in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Audrey Deviney and a two-run ground out by Yzanah Smith, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Aspyn Evanson suffered the loss for the Raiders, giving up eight runs in just 1.1 innings.

Next Up: The Red Devils will head to Portland, OR for a doubleheader scrimmage against Lewis & Clark College at the Huston Sports Complex. The first pitch is set for 12:00 PM.