Big Bend softball team drops two to TVCC, ends skid on Saturday against BMCC

MOSES LAKE — Talk about your bad days. The Big Bend softball team found a way to extend that two-game losing streak to four games after blowing up in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader with Treasure Valley.

The Vikings (10-9, 1-4 NWAC East) squandered two grand slams in the same inning, only to watch a seven-run lead in the top of the seventh melt when the Chukars erased it all with three two-out home runs, sending 11 batters to the plate, producing eight runs to complete the NWAC East sweep with a 13-12 victory. The Chukars (5-7, 5-1 NWAC East) won the opener 14-5 with three home runs, including a grand slam.

First-year Big Bend coach Michael Garoutte said he was too emotional following the second game to grant an interview.

The Big Bend NWAC East schedule is set up as such that the Vikings could ill afford to lose at home, let alone the four-game skid they are currently on.

They finish up the March schedule at Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley, then host Walla Walla (April 3) and Yakima Valley (April 8). From there, they don’t return home again until May.

Treasure Valley 13, Big Bend 12

Altitude in Moses Lake is a little over 1,000 feet above sea level, but the Big Bend softball complex had a Coors Field feel to it on Friday.

Big Bend freshman Dacia Hobbs hit a grand slam in the bottom half of the second to chase Treasure Valley starter Katie Davis. Chukars reliever Shaylee Fling immediately gave up two straight hits when Aubree Barney doubled and Ember Armstrong singled.

Chance Barg reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases, setting the stage for Savannah Hughes, who hit the second grand slam of the inning to give the Vikings a 11-2.

Big Bend had a chance to slam the door in the fifth on the eight-run rule, but Treasure Valley scored twice to make it a 12-5, which carried into the seventh inning where the unimaginable happened.

Big Bend starter Megan True, a right-handed freshman from Zillah, pitched a pretty fair game into the seventh. She gave up two runs before striking out Raelyn Curry for the second out. But then the bottom fell out and it all came crashing down.

Macie Smith hit a three-run home run to make it a 12-9 game. Jordan Henley followed with a solo shot to close the gap to two runs.

Garoutte went to the bullpen, bringing in Game 1 starter Bailey Christensen, who walked the first two batters faced. The whole game hinged on Rachel Ringer’s at-bat. With two down and still trailing by two runs the freshman from Darby, Mont., battled Christensen in a war of wills. Christensen worked a 2-1 count, but Ringer fouled off a couple and worked it to a full-count. Neither could get the upper hand until Ringer drew a 10-pitch base on balls. The very next batter up, Samantha MacFee drove a fastball over the left-field fence for what proved to be the game winner. The Chukars sent 11 to the plate, scoring eight runs on five hits, including three home runs to erase a 12-5 deficit.

Treasure Valley 14, Big Bend 5

It was just one of those days, Big Bend freshman Aubree Barney chased CJ Davis’ shot right to the left field fence, jumped up to rob the home run at the warning track, but the ball skipped over when she made contact with the fence and the Chukars took the lead for good on the freak-play home run.

Barney was 3-for-3 with a home run. Lynsey Valverde was 3-4 with a home run. Taylor Ferguson finished with three hits and Ember Armstrong had two hits, including a double.

Big Bend 12, Blue Mountain 0

The Vikings ended a four-game losing streak on Saturday with a five-inning shutout. Ferguson drove in four runs with a 2-4 effort and Valverde hit her 11th home run of the season.

Big Bend 5, Blue Mountain 2

Valverde made it a three home run weekend, stroking her 12th homer of the season to lead the Lady Vikings sweep over Blue Mountain. The freshman from Tremonton, Utah, finished the game with four RBI.