Roadrunners Win, Advance to Championship Monday

LONGVIEW, Wash. - Linn-Benton baseball needed extra innings and a remarkable comeback to advance in the NWAC Championships, winning game 12 of the tournament against Umpqua Community College 7-5 in ten innings. This also marked the seventh meeting of the season between the South Region foes, giving the Roadrunners a 4-3 advantage and ending the Riverhawks impressive season.

Linn-Benton (32-11-1, 26-10 NWAC South) were the designated visiting team and after four innings of scoreless baseball they would put up three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Conner Boyd would hit a single, then advance to second base on a Kolten Lindstrom sacrifice bunt. Andrew Demianew would then hit an RBI single to score Boyd. Jake Dodge capped off the scoring with a two-run home run to give the Roadrunners a 3-0 advantage.

Umpqua (28-23, 21-15 NWAC South) refused to go away, and battled back by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the lead 5-3. However the Roadrunners would answer in the eighth inning. Jake Holmes led off the inning by reaching base on a hard hit ball that forced an error. Chase Logan stepped to the plate and laid down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt that caused another defensive error allowing runners to advance to second and third base.

Brooks Avery came up clutch with a single into the outfield, scoring both Holmes and Logan to tie it up at 5-5. The Roadrunners would then take the lead in the tenth inning as Boyd and Lindstrom would each tally a single, then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. With runners on second and third, Demianew hit an RBI single that scored both runners to give his team the 7-5 advantage.

Relief Pitcher Ryan Rivers was outstanding, earning the win with 3.1 innings of work, scattering two hits and striking out four batters. 

The Roadrunners next face Spokane Community College and the winner will then play Tacoma Community College for the NWAC Title. The Championships start at 12:05 PM Monday, May 26.