Columbia Basin defeated Centralia in both games of the Sunday double-header to finish off the weekend sweep. Both starters failed to record a decision but the CBC bullpen pitched 12.2 innings on the day giving up just 1 run in the final inning of the day.
GAME 1:
Jace Wessels took the ball in his first game of the 2022 season. The second year Freshman was not the sharpest as his command just wasn't there today. In the top of the 2nd after a 2-out walk, Wessels surrendered a 3-run home run before getting a fly out to end the inning. The Hawks were able to scratch just 2 runs in the first two innings to make it a 3-2 game. In the 3rd, Wessels again gave up a 2-RBI extra base hit before being relieved in a bases loaded jam.
Ethan Petty was able to induce a Centralia ground ball to get out of the inning at 5-2.
Centralia's first reliever entered in the 4th touching 90 mph. The Hawks struggled for a few innings to catch up to the heat but in the bottom of the 6th, CBC was able to small-ball their way into 3 runs. First,
Will Baker reached on an infield single that brought in
Brooks Rasmussen. Baker advanced to third on the play after a throwing error sailed down the right field line. Baker then scored on a past ball before
Creed Mogle singled in
Steven Meier to put the Hawks up 6-5.
Mogle again singled in 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th to make it 8-5. Petty,
Brady Toth,
Cade Puckett,
Mason Hymer and
Cole Pearson combined for 6.1 scoreless innings as the committee surrendered just 3 hits. Puckett ended up with the win and Pearson netting himself the first save of the season.
GAME 2:
Sebastian Munoz was tasked with finishing off the Blazers for the weekend sweep in Game 2. Munoz, a returning arm for CBC, made his first college start and looked impressive. The Freshman went 4 strong innings on a pitch count giving up just 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 6. Again, the bullpen by committee turned in another strong performance as they shut Centralia down again.
Nick Grade singled in
Isaac Haws to go ahead 1-0 in the first. As Munoz settled in, Centralia was able to steal a run on a sac fly to center to make it 1-1 through the 4th inning. In the bottom of the 4th, Baker singled and stole second before being drove in by a Rasmussen triple off the fence in deep right center to make it 2-1.
True freshman
Garrett Bryant was first out of the pen for the Hawks. Bryant rolled a double play before getting a strike out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 7th,
Hunter Tiffany drove in a run with a sac fly to center to make it 3-1 CBC. In the bottom of the 8th, Haws connected on a deep blast to left field for an insurance run to make it 4-1.
Kyle Baumgardt,
Dylan Berry and
Chipper Lagrone were all able to come on and finish off Centralia on the day. Lagrone recorded the save as he worked his way through a little bit of trouble after giving up an RBI double. Lagrone was able to get a strike out and then a ground out to end the day at 4-2.
The sweep helps Columbia Basin start off the year hot with a 4-0 record. They will host Walla Walla on Friday in a non-league double-header before getting their first test as the Tacoma Titans come to town on Sunday for a double-header of their own.
