Roadrunners Fall to Titans Late

LONGVIEW, Wash. - The Linn-Benton baseball team started strong, but an eighth inning rally from Tacoma Community College was too much to overcome and the Roadrunners lost 7-4. Even with the loss, the team remains alive in the tournament.

Linn-Benton (31-11-1, 26-10 NWAC South) would get off to a strong start as the designated visiting team. They scored two runs in the top of the first inning, with Aiden Hazen scoring Kolten Lindstrom to open it up. Later in the inning a Jake Dodge single would drive in Bryant Starr to give the Roadrunners a 2-0 advantage.

The Roadrunners would score again in the sixth inning from an Andrew Demianew solo home run making it 3-0. A seventh inning single from Conner Boyd scored Jake Holmes to make it 4-0 but the Titans (27-17, 17-7 NWAC West) would get a run back in the bottom of the seventh to make it 4-1 heading into the eighth inning.

Tacoma would use a combination of patience at the plate and timely hitting to score six runs and gain a 7-4 advantage heading into the ninth inning where the Roadrunners would not manage to score. 

Starting Pitcher Jake Von Lubken had a stellar outing, going seven innings and scattering six hits while giving up just one run. The defense was solid as well, converting three inning ending double plays.

Linn-Benton will face Umpqua Community College on Saturday, May 25 with a scheduled 12:00 PM start time in game 12 of the 2025 NWAC Baseball Championships.