Vikings struggle in East Region opener
Big Bend catcher Cameron Olinger tags out Columbia Basin's Vaughn Prow at the plate during the third inning of the Vikings' 20-6 loss to the Hawks in Wednesday's first game. Photo by Neil Pierson/Columbia Basin Herald
MOSES LAKE - The Big Bend Vikings didn't lead once during Wednesday's NWAACC East Region opener against the Columbia Basin Hawks, but they were certainly threatening.
That is, until the seventh inning, when everything came crashing down around them.
Columbia Basin scored nine times in the seventh thanks to two walks and two hit batters, and went on to rout the Vikings 20-6 in the regional opener for both squads.
Big Bend trailed 4-3 heading to the seventh, but Columbia Basin sent nine straight batters to the plate in that frame. The Hawks, who placed fourth at last year's NWAACC Tournament, also had four hits in the inning, including a pair of two-run singles for Cody Galbraith and Phil Liniger.
The Hawks did all their damage against Viking relievers Brandon Scott and Cory Hall. Scott didn't retire any of the five batters he faced, and he and Hall combined to give up 12 runs in just two innings of work.
The Vikings came into the game after four consecutive wins in Centralia, which improved their non-league mark to 9-7. But the Hawks (16-4) were hot from the get-go, scoring twice in the first inning off starter Adryan Major, a freshman from Liberty High School in Issaquah.
Tyler Reeves, who finished 3 for 6 with three runs scored for the Hawks, led off the game with a single and scored when Luke Fieser mashed a double deep into center field. Fieser, who also had a huge game with four hits, three runs and five runs batted in, came in when Brett Bochsler delivered a two-out single.
Columbia Basin made it 3-0 in the fifth after Fieser walked and scored on Phil Liniger's sacrifice fly.
The Vikings had managed only two hits through four against Hawks starter Bryce Hjellum, but cut into their deficit in the fifth. Ben Chavarria stroked a single to left, scoring Cameron Olinger, and John Plughoff followed with a sac fly to plate Chris Demond.
Demond was Big Bend's offensive leader, finishing the first game 4 for 4 with two runs scored. Chavarria was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
The teams played cat and mouse in the sixth, with the Hawks scoring on Adam Johnson's groundout and the Vikings answering on Olinger's RBI single.
Then came the seventh, and the Vikings' bullpen imploded. Scott, Hall and Brian Biagi gave up 16 runs on 11 hits and four walks in the final three frames. Hall was especially wild, plunking four batters.
Major settled down after a shaky start, pitching six innings. He was charged with the loss after giving up six hits and four walks against four strikeouts.
Major also got some help to escape a jam in the third. Liniger reached with two outs and appeared ready to score when Bochsler stroked a hit to deep right. But Viking right fielder Connor Bridgman made a perfect relay to second baseman Jeff Durham, who gunned down Liniger at home.
Hjellum got the win for the Hawks, lasting 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and three walks, but struck out eight.
The Hawks had 18 hits off Big Bend's four pitchers, and eight of their nine starters had at least one hit. Liniger was 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBI, and Galbraith was 2 for 4 with three runs and four RBIs.
Results from the second game of the doubleheader weren't available at press time.
The Vikings are in action again on Saturday, traveling to Wenatchee Valley for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.