The Yakima Valley baseball team will have some work to do if it expects to reach the postseason after dropping three of four to Big Bend last week. The Yaks have now lost eight of their past 10 games after splitting a doubleheader with the Vikings at home on Wednesday and losing both games Saturday on the road.

The Yaks fell behind early in game one at home, trailing 7-2 after six innings on the way to a 9-4 defeat. Garren Gooler finished 4-for-4 and Kasey Newton went 3-for-5, but YVC was outhit 14-12 and committed six fielding errors. Matty Morin delivered an RBI triple and Gage Reeser had an RBI single. Starting pitcher Jackson Walker allowed six hits and four earned runs in 2 2/3, Ean Bedsaul pitched one scoreless inning and Roana Cason gave up three earned runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of work.

YVC (10-10 NWAC East, 19-21 overall) bounced back early in game two, scoring eight runs in the first and two more in the third on the way to a 13-3 victory. Travis Finney led the offense, going 3-for-5 with two RBI, while four others — Gooler, Newton, Jaden Estrada and Jackson Upton — had two hits apiece. Newton, Upton and Trayson Kostial each brought home a pair of runs, helping starter Luke Dowdy earn the win. He struck out four and gave up two earned runs and five hits over five innings. Marcus Olson pitched two scoreless innings and Oliver Wilday closed things out, allowing one run and two hits in the eighth.

The Yaks were looking good early in Saturday's opener, taking a 4-1 lead through four innings. But the Vikings slowly chipped away, sending the game to extra innings and winning 7-4 with a three-run homer in the 12^th. Newton and Gooler each went 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Upton and Jay O'Neill each brought in runs as the Yaks were outhit, 13-9. Starter Austin Dillon went 6 1/3, surrendering seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Marcus Olson pitched the final five frames, allowing four earned runs and five hits to go with four strikeouts.

The series finale didn't go the Yaks' way as they fell behind 8-2 after four innings and fell 12-2. Reeser and O'Neill each had two hits and an RBI, but the Yaks couldn't get much offense going in support of the pitching staff. Austin Murphy took the loss, allowing six earned runs and seven hits in 1 1/3. Diego Carrillo and Gus Musial combined for 4 2/3 innings of solid relief, allowing a combined three hits and two runs, before Wilday and Tyler Bono pitched the final 1 1/3.

YVC will look to stay in the playoff hunt on Wednesday with a trip to Treasure Valley, followed by a two-game set against the Chukars on Saturday at home.