Columbia Basin got back on the winning track with a pair of victories over the Chemeketa Storm 6-5 and 7-4.

Game 1:

Starter Ian Hughes cashed in another solid performance in a bounce-back game against the Storm. Despite giving up 1 in the first inning, Hughes went 3 and two thirds on a limited pitch count while striking out 4 and giving up just 2 runs.

In the bottom of the second, Brayden Mayencourt singled in the first run of the day with a line drive to left field. Later in the inning, Mayencourt came in to score on a balk to make it 2-1 Hawks. The Storm tied it back up in the 5th after a couple of miscues by the CBC defense.

Mayencourt singled in another run in the sixth to help Basin pull back ahead 3-2. A couple of two-out hits in the 7th including a triple helped push Chemeketa back ahead as the Basin bullpen did their best to try and hold on to the game.

Isaac Haws layed down a safety squeeze to bring home Nick Grade after a leadoff triple to right. For the first time all year, CBC found themselves in extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Chemeketa was able to plate a run to go ahead 5-4 with the last chance coming for the Hawks. Brooks Rasmussen lead of the 10th with a walk. Grade stepped up to lay down a sac bunt and it was good enough that he beat the throw at first while Rasmussen chugged all the way to third on the play. When the dust settled, Basin was looking at second and third with no outs. Payton Kallaher wore a 3-2 fastball on the bicep to load the bases up.

Alex Rodriguez lifted a fly ball to left to bring home Rasmussen to tie the game at 5. On the next pitch, Mayencourt smacked a ground ball that Kallaher was able to beat out at second as the throw was late. Meanwhile, Grade came all the way around from second to score on the play as CBC walked off 6-5.


Game 2:

With momentum on their side from the extra inning win, CBC opened up Game 2 with 3 runs in the bottom of the first on 2 errors by Chemeketa. Starter Josh Aribal held the Storm in check for 4 innings giving up 2 runs and striking out 5.

In the bottom of the fourth, Basin erupted for a 4 run inning highlighted by a 2-RBI double from Steven Meier. Rodriguez also singled in Meier to give the Hawks a 7-2 lead.

Both teams were quiet until Chemeketa scored two in the top of the 7th after a couple of walks to open the inning. However, Ryker Stevens was able to steer the ship home in the final two innings unscathed for the 2-inning save as the Hawks cruised to the 7-4 victory.

The wins move CBC to 16-4 on the year with one more day of preseason play before opening up the East Region against Treasure Valley.