PENDLETON — Josh Kutzke capped a six-run, eighth-inning rally with a three-run home run as Walla Walla Community College topped Blue Mountain, 12-8, in the first game of a Northwest Athletic Conference Eastern Region baseball doubleheader here Saturday.
Dylan Wilbert had three hits and reliever Caleb Custer pitched no-hit ball during innings seven through nine in the nightcap as the Warriors completed the sweep with a 12-8 triumph.
WWCC moved to 9-7 in the East and 19-10 overall.
“It was a great day to be a hitter with the way the wind was blowing,” WWCC coach Dave Meliah said. “Both teams swung the bats very well.”
Steven Sordahl commenced Walla Walla’s eight-inning scoring in the opener with a game-tying, two-run single and scored the tie-breaking tally on a Wilbert double.
“Steven had a great at-bat,” Meliah said. “He fouled off a couple pitches before getting the big hit. Dylan followed that with another great two-strike at-bat.”
Blake Macdonald followed with a single that sent Wilbert to third prior to Kutzke’s blast, his third long fly of the season.
“Josh’s home run really gave us some room to breathe,” Meliah said.
The Warriors scored three times in the first inning of game two, but the Timberwolves scored twice in both the first and second frames to take a 4-3 edge.
WWCC took the lead for good after scoring three runs in the third. It added five more in the fifth to raise its margin to seven, 11-4.
Wilbert ended up with five hits on the day and Blake Macdonald added four — two in each game.
“Dylan had another solid game,” Meliah said. “He really hit the ball.
“Caleb came on and slowed them down,” Meliah said. “He worked ahead in the count and was able to throw all his pitches for strikes to finish things off for us.”
WWCC continues league play Wednesday when it hosts Treasure Valley for a 1 p.m. twin bill.
