GAME ONE
TACOMA, WA - The Lower Columbia Red Devils fell just short in a hard-fought battle Saturday, dropping the first game of their four-game series against the Tacoma Titans by a final score of 3-2.

The Red Devils struggled to get the offense going early against Tacoma starter Max Goldberg, putting runners on base but failing to push a run across through the first five innings. Lower Columbia finally broke through in the top of the sixth. Sam Davidson and Jace Nagler reached base with two-out singles. After a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, Harlan Rowe delivered an RBI single to score Davidson, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Starting pitcher Chayse Oxborrow kept the Titans scoreless through the first three frames before running into trouble in the fourth inning. A walk and a single set the stage for Tacoma's Kaleb McNeely, who hit a three-run homer, accounting for all of the Titans' scoring. Oxborrow battled through six innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out five, but ultimately took the loss. Wyatt Macdonald and Ryan McClaskey provided solid relief out of the bullpen, keeping Tacoma off the board for the final two innings.

Facing a two-run deficit heading into the ninth, the Red Devils mounted a rally against Tacoma reliever Carson Ackermann. Brayden Oram led off with a single, followed by another single from Owen Cummins. Garrett Cooper then drove in Oram with an RBI single, making it a one-run game. Matt Bailey followed with another single to load the bases with no outs. However, Ackermann settled down to strike out the next three Red Devil batters, leaving the potential tying and go-ahead runs stranded and sealing the win for Tacoma.

Despite the loss, the Red Devils out-hit the Titans 10-7. Nagler, Rowe, and Bailey each collected two hits for Lower Columbia, while Rowe and Cooper drove in the runs.

GAME TWO
TACOMA, WA - Powered by an offensive onslaught highlighted by an incredible 11-run sixth inning, the Lower Columbia Red Devils bounced back in a big way Saturday afternoon, defeating the Tacoma Titans 14-10 in the second game of their doubleheader to even the series at one game apiece.

After dropping a close 3-2 decision in the opener, the Red Devils' bats came alive early in game two. Langan Naylor scored in the first inning on a Tacoma error to give LCC an early lead. However, the Titans responded with two runs in the bottom half off starter Kaden Larson.

Dante Santulli came on in relief in the first and settled things down for Lower Columbia. The Red Devils reclaimed the lead in the third inning when Harlan Rowe laced a two-run double, scoring Sam Davidson and Jace Nagler to make it 3-2.

Tacoma fought back, hitting solo home runs in the fourth (L. Shepherd and E. Weichbrod) and fifth (Shepherd again) innings off Santulli to take a 5-3 lead. Santulli picked up the win, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three runs despite the homers.

Trailing by two entering the sixth inning, the Red Devil offense erupted. Lower Columbia sent 16 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs on eight hits, three walks, and a hit batsman. The inning featured a cascade of clutch hits: an RBI walk by Matt Bailey, an RBI hit-by-pitch for Blake Mattern, a two-run double by Karsten Hansen, another two-run double by Davidson, an RBI single from Rowe, a two-run double by Owen Cummins, and finally, a two-run single from Garrett Cooper. When the dust settled, the Red Devils held a commanding 14-5 lead.

Tacoma chipped away with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh against reliever Stephen Hammergren, but the comeback fell well short as the game concluded after seven innings.

The Red Devils pounded out 13 hits in the victory. Rowe led the charge, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Davidson, Bailey, Cummins, Cooper, and Hansen each drove in two runs, with Davidson, Cummins, Hansen, and Mattern adding doubles.

GAME THREE
LONGVIEW, WA - Returning home to David Story Field on Sunday, the Lower Columbia Red Devils continued their offensive surge, defeating the Tacoma Titans 11-4 to take a 2-1 lead in the four-game series.

The Red Devils wasted no time getting on the board, plating two runs in the bottom of the first. After loading the bases with no outs, Harlan Rowe drove in Langan Naylor with an RBI single. Sam Davidson then scored on a double-play grounder off the bat of Brayden Oram to make it 2-0.

LCC added another run in the second when Garrett Cooper, who had led off with a double, came home on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 3-0.

Tacoma's offense, quiet for the first three innings against Red Devils starter Kaden Harris, erupted for four runs on seven hits in the top of the fourth, briefly taking a 4-3 lead. Harris battled through the inning and ultimately pitched six strong frames, scattering 12 hits but limiting the damage to those four runs while striking out three and walking none to earn the win.

Lower Columbia didn't trail for long. In the bottom of the sixth, the Red Devils loaded the bases again. Naylor delivered an RBI single, Rowe was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run, and Oram brought home the third run of the inning on a fielder's choice, putting LCC back on top 6-4.

The Red Devils blew the game open in the bottom of the eighth, scoring five more times. Key hits included a two-run single by Cummins and a two-run single by Naylor. Garrett Cooper also drove in a run on a fielder's choice during the rally.

Lefty Aaden Anderson took over on the mound for LCC in the seventh and was dominant, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two to earn the save and secure the 11-4 victory.

Lower Columbia showed impressive plate discipline, drawing eight walks and getting hit by pitches six times. L. Naylor had a standout game, going 2-for-3 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, three RBIs, and two runs scored. S. Davidson and J. Nagler also added two hits apiece, while H. Rowe and O. Cummins each drove in two runs.

GAME FOUR
LONGVIEW, WA - Champagne wishes and Story Field dreams! The Lower Columbia Red Devils are West Region Champions after defeating the Tacoma Titans 6-5 in a thrilling series finale on Sunday afternoon, clinching the title and an automatic berth into the NWAC Baseball Championships.

Needing a win to secure the region crown outright, the Red Devils found themselves in a tense battle in the second game of the doubleheader. After Tacoma took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an unearned run, Lower Columbia answered back immediately in the bottom of the fourth when Jace Nagler launched a solo home run to tie the game 1-1.

The Titans surged ahead in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs, capped by a three-run homer from Emmett Weichbrod off starter Quinn Hubbs, putting the Red Devils in a 5-1 hole.

But as they've done all season, the Red Devils responded under pressure. The bottom of the fifth proved decisive. Owen Cummins and Matt Bailey led off with back-to-back hits. Blake Mattern drove in Cummins with an RBI single. Langan Naylor followed with a sacrifice fly to score Bailey. After a walk, Harlan Rowe delivered the biggest blow, ripping a two-run double to tie the game 5-5. Brayden Oram immediately followed with an RBI single to score Rowe, giving LCC a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish.

The Red Devil bullpen slammed the door. Ryan McClaskey, who entered in relief in the fifth, pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit to earn the victory. Matthew Kosderka finished the job, pitching a scoreless seventh inning for his 12th save of the season, setting off the celebration at David Story Field.

Oram, Cummins, and Mattern each had two hits for the Red Devils. Rowe led the team with two RBIs, while Naylor, Nagler, Oram, and Mattern each drove in one.

With the 6-5 victory, Lower Columbia (39-4 overall, 17-2 conference) wins the series 3-1 and captures the West Region title. 

The Red Devils still have another weekend of work before the regular season comes to and end. The Pierce Raiders will come to Story Field this Friday, May 9th for a 12:00 pm double header. 
It will be ASLCC Spirit day with the Associated Students of Lower Columbia providing goodies for fans. Along with that is also Sophomore Day and the team will recognize their sophomores after the first game of the doubleheader.
LCC will finish off the season with a double header at Pierce on Saturday, May 10. First pitch at 2:00 pm.