Columbia Basin split the Sunday double header and the weekend with the SW Oregon Lakers. The split drops the Hawks to 14-2 on the season in their first test of the year.

Game 1:

With Brady Toth currently on the injured reserve list, CBC had to get creative on the day with their pitching. Jace Wessels took the ball in Game 1 resuming his normal starting role. He was able to finish the 3rd while giving up 3 earned on the day. SWOCC jumped out to a 5-3 lead after 5 innings as CBC struggled to find quality at-bats with runners on base. Fortunately, the Lakers were able to help the Hawks along with a few errors and wild pitches.

Creed Mogle and Payton Kallaher each doubled in a run early. Trailing 6-4 heading into the bottom of the 7th, The Hawk hitters finally got some timely hitting. After a couple of early hits, Mogle and Jaxon Henderson each drove in a pair. The big play came with 1 out and 2 on when Kallaher blasted a long ball to left for a 3-run home run pushing Basin ahead 10-6. On the inning, CBC scored 7 runs.

Dylan Berry came on for the final 6 outs as he retired the Lakers in order to preserve the comeback win.


Game 2:

In the second game of the double-header, both teams had agreed to a 7-inning game to allow SWOCC more travel time. Coach Stefan McGovern decided to make Game 2 a "pitching-by-committee" game. Brooks Rasmussen started on the hill but SWOCC was able to get to him early for 4 runs in his 3 innings of work. On the weekend, the Lakers consistently put together good at-bats with aggressive base running. 

Garrett Bryant took over for Rasmussen in the 4th but did not have his best stuff. After giving up a 2-run home run, Kyle Baumgardt came on to try and get out of the 3rd. When the inning finished, CBC found themselves down 8-0. 

In the bottom of the 4th, The Hawks were able to string together a big 2-out rally with RBI base hits from Will Baker, Isaac Haws and Rasmussen. The 6-run inning cut the lead to 8-6 with plenty of baseball left. 

Henderson took the ball in the 7th and was able to get 2 outs early. With runners on second and third, Henderson induced a fly ball to center that looked as if it was right at the center fielder. At the last second, the ball caromed off his glove which allowed both runs to score to make it 10-6, SWOCC.

CBC scored 2 more in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded walk and subsequent wild pitch. They were unable to get a 2-out hit this time and left the bases loaded. Both teams went quickly in the 7th as the Lakers were able to hold on by a final score of 10-8.