The WWCC baseball team suffers a 13-3 opening loss to the Chukars, but then rallies for a 9-8 decision.
ONTARIO, Ore. — Brayde Hirai pitched five scoreless innings of relief for Walla Walla Community College’s baseball team, and teammate Justin Macdonald hit a big three-run double with two outs in the eighth inning as the Warriors rallied to beat Treasure Valley, 9-8, and salvage a split of their Northwest Athletic Conference East Region doubleheader here on Wednesday.
WWCC lost the opener, 13-3, and then faced an 8-4 deficit in the nightcap when Hirai took the mound in the fifth inning.
“It was a great comeback win for us,” Warriors coach Dave Meliah said. “Justin had a huge hit with two strikes, and Brayde shut them down for the last four innings. Treasure Valley is always a tough place to play, and it was nice to get out of there with a win.”
A freshman lefthander, Hirai assumed pitching duties in the fifth inning and scattered three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the Warriors scored a run in the seventh inning and then took over with three more in the eighth on Macdonald’s bases-clearing double.
Hirai made their lead stand to the end.
Cooper Larson and Brian O’Rourke each finished the day 3-for-8 with a run batted in for the Warriors, while teammate Kealen Martin doubled and homered in the nightcap.
Sixth-place WWCC (11-9 overall, 2-4 in the East) will have a chance to climb the regional standings when the Warriors return to action, hosting fifth-place Blue Mountain (3-3) for a twin bill on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
First Game
Walla Walla02001000—373
Treasure Valley11200603—13111
Haughton, Wood (6), Oldham (7) and Larson, Musick. Robles, Strickland (4), Pope (7) and Hladky.
HR — none.
Hits — Walla Walla: Larson 2, O’Rourke, Roe, Lester, Musick, Childs. Treasure Valley: Cooper 3, Burrup 2, Pannullo 2, Higgins 2, Bleskin, Benear.
Second Game
Walla Walla012200130—9120
Treasure Valley010430000—8142
Petersen, Hirai (5) and Musick. Pope, Wheeler (2), Clark (4), Palomo (4), Stowers (7), Rodriguez (8), Burrup (9) and Berg.
HR — Walla Walla: K. Martin. Treasure Valley: Berg.
Hits — Walla Walla: O’Rourke 2, Macdonald 2, K. Martin 2, Larson, Smith, Lafontaine, Robinson, Musick, C. Martin. Treasure Valley: Burrup 4, Pannullo 2, Wong 2, Stowers 2, Berg 2, Higgins, Cooper.
Union Bulletin
