The Yakima Valley baseball team entered last week comfortably in second place in the NWAC East, but after dropping three of four to Columbia Basin, the Yaks find themselves barely hanging onto the fourth and final playoff spot. YVC took Wednesday's series opener 10-6 on the road but lost the remaining three games, including two at home on Saturday to fall to 9-7 in conference play (25-13 overall).
Jace Fillmore and
Garren Gooler each delivered solo home runs in the first inning before
Gage Reeser roped a three-run double in the fifth to give the Yaks a 5-1 advantage.
Jaden Estrada connected for another solo blast in the sixth before
Jackson Walker delivered an RBI single later in the inning. Starter
Austin Dillon picked up the win, striking out three and allowing four hits and one run over six innings.
Tristan Pulliam gave up two runs and three hits in relief and
Gus Musial surrendered three runs and five hits before
Tannon Marsalis closed things out with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth.
The Hawks connected for six runs in the first inning of game two to hand the Yaks a 13-5 defeat. Starter
Andre Cephers lasted just one-third of an inning, giving up five runs and five hits, before giving way to
Austin Murphy, who gave up a run and two hits in 2 2/3.
Oliver Wilday was effective in his 1 1/3 innings, striking out three and allowing one run and two hits, and
Easton Seeley struck out five over his three innings of work. At the plate, Walker went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI, Estrada drove in a pair of runs, and Fillmore and
Will Feltus collected two hits apiece.
Neither team was able to put together much offense until the late innings of Saturday's opener, as CBC went into the eighth holding a 3-2 lead. But the Hawks scored seven in the ninth to hand the Yaks a 10-6 defeat. YVC mounted a comeback with four runs in the bottom of the frame as Reeser, Estrada and
Will Weber each delivered RBI hits. Gooler finished 3-for-4 with two RBI,
Easton Anderson and Reeser each went 2-for-4, and Estrada delivered two RBI. Starter
Boston Snyder was solid through eight innings, allowing nine hits and three earned runs while striking out 10.
Jake Roscher,
Austin Murphy and Pulliam struggled in relief, combining to allow seven runs in one inning.
The Yaks tried to even the series in the nightcap, keeping it close until the end before falling 6-4. CBC took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the second, but the Yaks narrowed the lead to one with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. The Hawks added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth and kept the YVC lineup at bay to earn the doubleheader sweep. Reeser went 3-for-3 with two RBI, Estrada was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Gooler was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Marsalis pitched the first five innings, allowing four earned runs, eight hits and three walks.
Zeb Blattstein went 1 2/3, allowing a run and two hits, and Walker closed out the game, giving up a run and three hits over 2 1/3.
The Yaks will look to rebound this week against second-place Spokane, starting with a road doubleheader Tuesday. The teams will then be in Yakima for a pair on Saturday.
