British Columbia 5, College of Idaho 1
Coyotes starter Nick Eliason held the Thunderbirds to one hit over the first five innings, and that hit was a solo home run by Trent Lenihan in the bottom of the fourth. The Coyotes got their only run of the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Kris Kirkpatrick. The Thunderbirds added a run in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Russell Young, then put it away with a three-run home run by Brandon Hupe in the bottom of the seventh.
Thunderbird starter Sean Heppner got the win. He pitched six innings, allowed four hits, struck out five, and the Coyotes’ run was unearned. Daniel Sereda went the rest of the way, allowed one hit, struck out five, got a save. He had to pitch out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth. He hit a batter batter with one out. The Coyotes sent in a pinch-hitter; he hit a line drive in foul territory down the right field line, and Aaron Marsh came all the way from second base to catch it and record the second out. A double by Jake Denison gave the Coyotes runners on second and third. However, Sereda got a strikeout to end it.
Heppner and Sereda were helped out by some excellent defensive plays in addition to the one by Marsh, several of them by Cameron Sanderson at third base, and another one by Lenihan at first base.
Hupe and Lenihan both finished 2-for-4. Jonah Hultberg finished 2-for-3 for the Coyotes. Eliason’s numbers were seven innings pitched, five runs on five hits, six strikeouts, three walks; he threw 124 pitches. Box score
Lewis-Clark State 14, Oregon Tech 2
The conference regular season champions were taken out of this game by last season’s national runners-up with five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Pu’ukani De Sa started the onslaught with an RBI single. Nick Seamons followed with a two-RBI single, then Sam Olsson hit an RBI single, chasing Hustlin’ Owls starter Brendan Talonen. Charlie Updegrave added one more RBI single, and the Warriors led 6-1. They added four runs in the sixth, and four more in the eighth to end the game with the mercy rule. The Owls had only four hits against Warriors starter Trevin Hope (pitched five innings, allowed one earned run, struck out 11), and zero hits off Jantzen Lucas, who pitched three innings, struck out four. Seamons did the most offensive damage; 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and six RBI. De Sa finished 4-for-5 with a three-run home run and four RBI. Box score
British Columbia 4, Lewis-Clark State 2
Ryan Heppner picked up the second win of the day for pitchers from Point Roberts, WA. He pitched eight innings, threw 99 pitches, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out 12. He struck out the side in the second inning.
Brandon Hupe had his second good game of the day; 2-for-3 with a double and a credited RBI, and another RBI when he reached on an error. Aaron Marsh hit a solo home run in the third inning, and Trent Lenihan followed with a sacrifice fly for the winning run.
Dallas McGill, who was chased in the third inning, got the loss. Charlie Updegrave got a home run for the Warriors. Brendan Logan pitched the ninth inning for the Thunderbirds, struck out two of the four batters he faced, allowed one hit, and got a save.
This was a well-played ball game, with some good defensive plays by both teams. The Thunderbirds got two double plays, and Cameron Sanderson made another big play at third base. Box score
Oregon Tech 9, College of Idaho 0 (College of Idaho eliminated)
Patrick Arman pitched eight shutout innings, scattered eight hits, struck out six.
The Hustlin’ Owls got going with two runs in the top of the first, on RBI singles by Julien Jones and Ka’ala Tam. There was no more scoring until the sixth inning, when Alonzo Vergara hit a three-run home run. That was followed by a two-RBI triple by Korrey Siracusa. A solo home run by Jones in the seventh inning completed the scoring.
The Owls brought in Brodie Marino, normally a catcher, to pitch the ninth inning. It was his first mound appearance of the season. He allowed one hit, and struck out one. Kirby Robertson got the loss. Siracusa finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI. Tyler Horner finished 3-for-5. Alex McFarland-Smith went 2-for-4 for the Coyotes. Box score
Schedule for Monday:
Postponed until Tuesday due to weather.
Schedule for Tuesday:
Note change: At Hamlin Sports Complex, Springfield, OR. Video (Paywalled. $10 per game, or $25 for the entire tournament.) Audio (free)
2 PM: Lewis-Clark State vs. Oregon Tech (loser out)
5:30 PM: British Columbia vs. Monday winner. If British Columbia doesn’t win, the “if necessary” game is tentatively scheduled for 10 AM Wednesday.
