Chukars Control Series Against Timberwolves, Win 3-1
[Ontario, OR] - The Chukar baseball program faced the Timberwolves from Pendleton, OR in Blue Mountain Community College on Wednesday and Saturday, April 12th & 15th. TVCC fell in the first game at BMCC on Wednesday, 5-1, but took control of the series and proved victorious in the remaining three games, winning 5-3, 11-4, and 9-8, taking the series 3-1 and improving to 5-7 in NWAC East Region play.
Game 1 (loss, 5-1)
The Chukars struggles to get the bats going as they ended the game with only one hit. Brit Lusk started on the mound and went 5.0 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikouts. Warner Robertson pitched 2.0 innings, alloing 4 hits, 3 runs, and striking out 1 batter. Caleb Ward finished the game on the mound, pitching 1.0 inning, and walking 1 batter. Isaac Bateman had a 2-base hit and an RBI for the Chukars, while Mason Kent recorded a sac bunt.
Game 2 (win, 5-3)
Colton Sneddon started on the mound, and was solid. Sneddon went 5.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (both unearned), and striking out 6 batters with no walks. Isaac Bateman took the mound for 3.0 innings, allowing 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 3. Dillon Eden finished on the mound for 1.0 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 earned run, and also struck out 3 batters. Dallas Cummins, Braden Horsley, Kash Akita, Lincoln Ratliff, and Corbin Sanchez each recorded an RBI.
Game 3 (win, 11-4)
The bats were hot for the Chukars as they finished with 16 hits led by Edgar Alvarado going 3-4 and Isaac Bateman going 3-5. Michael Christensen went 1-1, with that hit being a 2-run home run. Mitch Thomas recorded the win on the mound, going 2.0 innings, allowing 2 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 1 base on balls. Zach Garner pitched 3.1 innings, with 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Warner Robertson went 2.2 innings, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Braden Zadow finished on the mound with 1.0 innings and 1 strikeout.
Game 4 (win, 9-8)
Scott Baker earned the win on the mound going 6.0 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Nicholas Goodman went 1.0 innings with 1 hit, 5 runs, and 1 walk. Dillon Eden finished with 2.0 innings, 1 hit, and 2 strikeouts. The hero of the game was sophomore 3rd baseman Ira Lee, who came up to the plate with a runner on 2nd base in the bottom of the 9th inning. Lee hit a ball to the gap and Kash Akita scored, which secured the win for the Chukars, walk-off style.
The Chukars take on the Sasquatch of Spokane on Wednesday in Spokane, and will finish the series at home on Saturday, April 22nd. Chukars currently sit 5th in East Region, and Spokane sits atop the leader board at 11-1.