Walla Walla Community College opened its 2015 baseball season Saturday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader with Prairie Baseball Academy at Warrior Field.
The Warriors took the opener, 12-0, before dropping a 4-3 decision in the nightcap.
Clayten Ayres tossed eight shutout innings during Saturday’s opener. He allowed two hits, struck out three and threw just 80 pitches.
“Clayten threw phenomenal,” WWCC coach Dave Meliah said. “He pounded the strike zone and controlled the tempo.”
Offensively, Walla Walla got two hits apiece from Steven Sordahl, Michael Kilpatrick, Cam Walker and Ryan Riepma. Walker also aided the Warriors’ cause with five RBI.
PBA tallied three runs in the first inning and one in the third inning of game two, and held off WWCC to earn a split in the twin bill.
Pitcher Ben Kennedy had Walla Walla shut out through the first seven innings before tiring in the eighth.
“Give their pitcher credit,” Meliah said. “He threw a really good game. It took us a little too long to make any offensive adjustments.
“We gave ourselves a chance by getting the tying and winning runs on base in both the eighth and ninth innings,” Meliah said. “That’s all you can ask for as a coach — just keep scrapping away and giving yourself a chance to win.”
