Columbia Basin dropped a pair of games to open up the 2023 season against the defending champs.

GAME 1

Dylan Berry got the ball for the season opener and was dazzling in his four innings of work. The redshirt freshman scattered two hits while striking out 8 of the 16 batters he faced including 3 in a row to finish off the third inning.

Gavin Mattson opened up the scoring in the 1st with an RBI single that plated Brooks Rasmussen. In the 4th, it was Rasmussen's turn to bring home one with a line drive single off the glove of the first baseman. After a lineout from Steven Meier, it was Hayden Matray who connected on a 3-run blast to right field to give CBC the commanding 5-0 lead.

However, Linn-Benton would not be going down so easy. The Roadrunners scored 5 of their own in the 5th off the Basin bullpen to tie the game back up at 5. In the 8th, they were able to get a big 2-out single that brought home the eventual winning runs. The Hawks responded with one of their own in the 8th off a wild pitch but ultimately left the bases loaded. 

A quiet 9th inning handed Linn-Benton the win in the first game of the day.

GAME 2

In the second game of the day, starter Cameron Soliz turned in a solid performance of his own surrendering just one sac fly in the first. The sophomore worked around a few walks while striking out 4 in his three innings of work. 

Rasmussen and Mattson each drove in a run in the 3rd to retake the lead but again the Roadrunners were able to get to the Basin bullpen. They would score in each of the following four innings to take a 10-2 lead. 

As CBC began to make some changes to get new hitters at-bats, they were unable to generate any scoring. Linn-Benton's bullpen was able to hold down the 10-2 lead for the final of Game 2.

The Hawks will get a chance to rebound against Grays Harbor on Sunday who will first play Linn-Benton in a Saturday double-header before turning around for the 11am first pitch.