Riverdogs finish weekend stretch of games up 4-2

by CASEY MCCARTHY
Staff Writer | July 19, 2020 11:11 PM

MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin Riverdogs finished up a six-game slate over the weekend, going 4-2.

The Riverdogs took on NW Naturals in their lone matchup on Friday, falling 9-5 despite outhitting their opponents 11-10. Tied at 4-4 after two innings, the Naturals poured in four more runs over the next two innings to pull ahead.

Ten Columbia Basin players notched hits in Friday’s game, with Blaine Macdonald leading the team with a 2-3 day from the plate and a pair of RBIs.

The Riverdogs opened up Saturday with a 5-4 win over New Level Kings in dramatic fashion. With the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Seth Olson was hit by a pitch to bring in the game-deciding run.

Olson and Zaine Harden each finished with a pair of RBIs in the win. Olson tossed five and a third innings from the mound as well, surrendering three runs off five hits with five strikeouts.

Columbia Basin picked up its second win in a row on Saturday against 2020 WW Sweets, 7-3.

Three runs in the bottom of the first helped the Riverdogs jump ahead early, and they kept the runs coming for the first four innings. Olson finished 2-2 from the plate to lead the team, while Asher Lindgren and Macdonald each grabbed a pair of RBIs as well.

Carson Janke tossed five and a third innings, allowing three runs on four hits with six strikeouts from the mound.

The Riverdogs opened up Sunday with another win over 2020 WW Sweets, coming out with a comfortable 8-1 victory, despite being outhit 9-7. A five-run third inning followed by three runs in the fourth helped Columbia Basin jump ahead.

Jacob Martinez finished 2-3 from the plate for the Riverdogs, while Jett Nelson and Lindgren each notched a pair of RBIs. Martinez pitched six innings, surrendering just one run off eight hits with one strikeout.

In the second game on Sunday, the Riverdogs took down New Level Kings, 6-3. Tied at 3-3 going into the final inning, the Columbia Basin squad knocked three runs in to pull away late.

Olson and Nelson each grabbed a pair of hits in the win, with Olson adding a team-high two RBIs. Merrit Jansen pitched six innings for the Riverdogs, allowing three runs off six hits with six strikeouts.

The Riverdogs finished up their weekend against Northwest Athletics on Sunday in a 13-7 loss. Down 6-5 after five innings, the Athletics poured in seven runs over the final two innings to pull away. The Riverdogs were outhit 16-8 in their final game of the weekend.