Warrior Baseball Salvages a Win in NWAC East Series vs. Yakima Valley

Walla Walla, WA - After a 2-2 series split against Treasure Valley in the first week of NWAC East play, the Walla Walla Community College Baseball team took on Yakima Valley in a 4-game series. The Warriors were swept on the road on Wednesday by a solid YVC team, before rebounding to earn a split in Saturday's doubleheader, finishing the week 1-3 against the Yaks. WWCC now sits in a tie for 5th place in the NWAC East with a regional record of 3-5, and an overall record of 7-16.

Walla Walla 0 vs. Yakima Valley 9 (Wednesday - Game 1)

Beckett Ensminger tallied two of the Warriors four hits in the series-opening game where WWCC was held scoreless following a strong starting performance by Yakima Valley's Jacob Troast, ultimately resulting in a 9-0 defeat. Aaron Kaufman and Gavin Wideman each recorded a hit as well, but five YVC runs in the first two innings gave them the jump start that was needed to control the game from start to finish.

Walla Walla 4 vs. Yakima Valley 5 (Wednesday - Game 2)

The second half of Wednesday's doubleheader was much more tightly contested as the game would enter the late innings tied at 3-3. In the bottom of the 8th, Yakima Valley would plate one run to take a 4-3 lead, but the Warriors answered in the top of the 9th on a Tyson Landoni single to score Cade Hill. However, in the bottom of the 9th, a leadoff walk and untimely error would allow the Yaks to push across a fifth, and winning, run to claim both ends of the doubleheader. Landoni had a huge game for WWCC, finishing with 4 hits and 2 RBI's, while Kamanalu Grace and Aaron Kaufman each recorded 2 more hits in an effort that saw Walla Walla total 11 team hits. Kaufman and Dylan Kakuda recorded doubles in the game, the only extra-base hits of the afternoon for Walla Walla. Owen Spendlove gave the Warriors a strong start on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings while allowing only 3 earned runs and striking out 2.

Walla Walla 11 vs. Yakima Valley 3 (Saturday - Game 1)

An early offensive jump start and complete effort on the mound allowed Walla Walla to respond well and take the first game of Saturday's doubleheader over Yakima Valley, 11-3. The Warriors scored 6 runs in the first three innings before playing add on, scoring 1 more in the 4th, 2 more in the 5th, and 2 more in the 6th. Evan Perry set the tone on the hill for WWCC, working through 6.1 innings while surrendering only 2 earned runs on 7 hits and striking out 2 Yaks. Wiley Wagner and Nakoa Moses-Gomera combined to hold Yakima Valley scoreless over the final 2.2 innings while striking out 4. Cade Hill paced the WWCC offense, finishing 4-4 with 4 RBI's and a walk, while Beckett Ensminger added 3 hits in 4 at bats, and Brian Alcazar registered a multi-hit game of his own. Hill, Ensminger, and Alcazar, along with Aaron Kaufman, slugged doubles in the victory.

Walla Walla 0 vs. Yakima Valley 2 (Saturday - Game 2)

Despite Trace Green's 5 innings of 5-hit, 2-run baseball on the mound, the Warrior offense was held in check to close out the series with Yakima Valley. Green struck out 6 in his 5 innings of work before Luke Jenkins came in to pitch the final 4 innings of the game and hold YVC scoreless. However, the pair would be outdone by Yakima Valley's Tannon Marsalis who pitched a complete game for the Yaks, only giving up 2 hits and striking out 14. Beckett Ensminger and Brian Alcazar were the Warriors who were able to put a blemish on Marsalis' stat line.

What's next?

Walla Walla will travel to Spokane on Wednesday for a doubleheader before returning on Saturday to play host to the Sasquatch. First pitch of both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1:00 PM.