Columbia Basin defeated Big Bend in a pair of Wednesday conference games by scores of 4-2 and 7-0. Aces Dylan Berry and Cameron Soliz dazzled in their outings combining for 14 innings, 1 unearned run and 14 strike outs to lead the day.

Berry was on fire to start Game 1, mixing pitches while hitting his spots. Berry's only blemish of the day came on a CBC miscue that lead to 1 run coming around in the 3rd inning. CBC was able to come right back over the top in the 4th with three consecutive 2-out basehits featuring an RBI triple from Will Baker before he was brought home by Wyatt Lizama to give Berry a 2-1 and that was enough for him.

CBC added two more insurance runs in the 5th on a Hayden Matray single to right-center that brought home Steven Meier and Brooks Rasmussen. Landon Webb was handed the ball in the 8th for the on-schedule 2-inning save. Webb got into trouble in the 9th where he found himself in a bases loaded 2-out situation but the Sophomore was able to induce a 6-3 ground out to seal the deal by the 4-2 final.

If Berry was good in Game 1, Soliz did his best to match the performance. The NWAC leader in strikeouts and wins added to his total. To open the game, Soliz plunked the first batter on the first pitch before giving up a chopper to 3rd for an infield single. That single would be the only hit of the day off the righty as the Vikings were unable to muster anything hard hit. 

Viking starter Tim Williams went 3 hitless innings before the Hawks struck for two runs in the 4th on some small-ball including a safety squeeze from Baker followed up by a sac fly from Harper Huang. CBC broke it open in the 6th for 5 runs on a couple of Viking miscues. Christian Jarocki had the big hit with runners on 2nd and 3rd who both came around to score on the opposite field line drive from the Freshman.

If 1 run was enough for Soliz, he now had a 7-run padding and cruised through 7 innings and striking out the final two hitters of his day. Brady Toth came on to finish out the final two innings and the sophomore was able to get around a few walks while holding the shutout in place for Soliz.

The wins move CBC into 2nd place in the East Region at 7-3 (20-12 overall). The Hawks will travel to Moses Lake on Saturday to return the double-header starting at 1pm.