PENDLETON — It took Walla Walla Community College 21 innings here Saturday in NWAC East baseball action, but the Warriors got the job done by the narrowest of margins.
The Warriors plated a run in the top of the ninth in the opener to break a 6-6 tie and earn a 7-6 win over Blue Mountain Community College.
The Warriors and Timberwolves battled through a pitching dual for 11 innings in the second game. In the top of the 12th, Walla Walla got the game winner home and the Warriors completed the sweep.
The Warriors took advantage of BMCC control issues and got an RBI single from Dimick Wood to score four times in the third of the opener and increase their lead to 6-2.
The Timberwolves pecked away and got it even at 6-6 with a run in the home eighth.
Kaelen Martin doubled to start the Warrior ninth. The Warriors loaded the bases and Quentin Lafontaine delivered the game winner with a single as the Warriors took a 7-6 lead to the home ninth.
Trace Ogata was paged from the Warrior pen in relief of starter Caleb Burnham, who worked the first eight. Ogata worked a perfect ninth to save the 7-6 Warrior win.
Sean Coffey and Cooper Larson both went deep for the Warriors to pace the Warrior 10-hit attack.
A lot of goose eggs went up in the second contest. BMCC’s Cole Connolly and the Warriors Julian Washburn matched zeroes.
A Coffey sac fly got a run home for the Warriors in the fifth to break up the scoreless tie.
The Timberwolves answered in the home sixth. A Jerrett Plunkett single, a passed ball, and a Dustin Durfinger run-scoring single got the Timberwolves even at 1-1 after six. That was the offense until the 12th.
Washburn went nine innings for the Warriors. Washburn gave up one run on three hits while striking out 13 before turning the game over to Jax Evenhus. Evenhus worked three innings of one-hit scoreless baseball to earn the win for the Warriors.
Connolly took the hard loss for the Timberwolves. Connolly went all 12 innings for BMCC.
In the deciding 12th, Lafontaine blasted a two-out double for the Warriors. Cody Garza followed with an RBI single and the Warriors went to the bottom of the 12th up 2-1.
Evenhus worked a scoreless 12th and the Warriors completed the sweep with the 2-1 win.
“These were two great games,” Warrior coach Dave Meliah said. “Both teams played well. I was very proud of our guys for competing their tails off and finding a way to win.”
With the sweep the Warriors improve their NWAC record to 11-9, tied for fourth in the NWAC East. Treasure Valley travels to Walla Walla Wednesday for an NWAC double header.
First Game
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BMCC101200110—6101
Burnham, Ogata (9) and Wood; Gritz, Wayenberg (8) and Cantonwine.
HR — WWCC: Coffey, Larson.
Hits — WWCC: Coffey, O’Rourke, Martin, Robinson 2, Larson 2, Wood 2, Lafontaine; BMCC: Durflinger, Broom 2, Salsman 3, Sutton 2, White 2.
Second Game
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Washburn, Evenhus (10) and Lester; Connolly and Cantonwine.
HR — none.
Hits — WWCC: Martin 2, Robinson 2, Lester, Lafontaine 3, Garza 2; BMCC: Durflinger, Cantonwine, Sutton, Plunkett.
Union Bulletin
