Everett, WA – Baseball was back in action over the weekend with a four game series against NWAC powerhouse Lower Columbia College.  Saturday's games featured a doubleheader in Longview, while Sunday's slate was a pair of games back in Everett at Funko Field.  Over the past decade there have been a number of battles between these two clubs, often facing each other in the NWAC playoffs on the Red Devils home field.  Last season, EvCC and LCC did not see each other in the playoffs, though the two teams did face last March.  Lower Columbia took three of four, but two games went into extra innings.

On a drizzly day in Longview, the Red Devils took the first game 8-5, but Everett was the benefactor in a seven-inning game two that also ended 8-5.  Back in Everett the sun was out in spurts for the back half of the series where the teams split once again, Everett taking game one 10-7 and Lower Columbia winning the cap, 7-3.  The weekend was offensively highlighted by Braeden Terry's 11 hits, nine of which came on Sunday.  Sheehan O'Connor also came up with 6 hits, 6 RBI's, and drew 4 walks.  

The series split keeps the Trojan record this season at .500 (6-6).  They will face Spokane next weekend for another 4 game home series.  The Sasquatch are 3-3, most recently dropping three of four this past weekend to Edmonds. 

Game 1 Recap

After two scoreless innings, Lower Columbia jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a two out rally with four straight hits.  Everett evened the score in the top of the seventh with RBI's from Carson Burns, Braeden Terry and two from Ryan Contreras.  The Devils came right back to answer with 3 more in the bottom half of that same inning and then added a solo homerun in the 8^th to take the 8-4 lead. The Trojans had life in the top of the ninth after a leadoff single and double by Carson Burns and Ryan Jeffrey.  Ryan Contreras got his 3^rd RBI of the day on a sac fly but that would be all.  Mason Devinney went 5 innings giving up 9 hits and 4 earned runs, while striking out 4.  In addition to Contreras' 2 hits, Drew Biggerstaff and Carson Burns each had a pair of singles and Ryan Jeffrey had the lone double.

Game 2 Recap

Tyson Willis got the start in game two and dealt a gem, going 6 shutout innings with just 4 hits.  Meanwhile the Trojan offense got started early with two runs on 3 hits in the first.  The lead was extended in the 5^th with two more runs driven in by Sheehan O'Connor's single.  A big four-run inning in the 6^th seemed to have put the game away at 8-0, but the Devils made a valiant effort in the 7^th scoring 5 runs highlighted by a 3 run home run.   O'Connor went 2-3 on the day with 3 RBI's, Ryan Jeffrey drove in a pair of runs on a single, and Aiden Van Rensum recorded his 3^rd double of the season.

Game 3 Recap

The Red Devils got off the bus and put a run on the board in the first inning, but Everett responded in the bottom of the first with three hits highlighted by Drew Biggerstaff's off the wall double.  LCC got to starting pitcher David Buckner in the 4^th with four runs to take the lead back.  Brandon Brunette came in for relief and threw a solid 4 innings, giving up 3 hits and 2 earned runs.  The Trojans meanwhile used a big 7^th inning to score 6 runs and take a 10-7 lead.  Elias Holbert continued to pitch in the top of the 9^th, who retired two batters, one via strikeout in the 8^th and then proceeded to close out the 9^th.  Braeden Terry had a huge 5 for 5 game and Sheehan O'Connor went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's to help the Trojans take game three 10-7.