Centralia College baseball was unable to overcome division rival Lower Columbia College in a four-game series defeat on Saturday and Sunday.
The Trailblazers, who had just snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over Grays Harbor on April 21, were unable to overcome the Red Devils, losing 15-2 and 10-6 during a doubleheader at home on Saturday.
The Blazers’ offense managed just one hit, from Matt Beckworth, while Matthew Obst and Matthew Osberg each scored runs during the 15-2 loss in Game 1.
Derek Beairsto went 4.2 innings, striking out six while allowing six earned runs on four hits and four walks.
In Game 2, the Blazers’ offense woke up a bit, tallying seven hits in a 10-6 loss. Obst went 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI, while Casen Taggart was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Hayden Yates tossed four innings, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits and three walks with two punchouts.
“As a program, we are learning the level of play we need to be at to beat programs like Lower Columbia,” Centralia College coach Ben Harley said. “As a young squad, it’s important to take every game one pitch at a time and continue to progress daily.”
On Sunday, in Longview, the Blazers fell 16-6 and 1-0.
In Game 3 of the series, Andrew Dalton went 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run, Taggart was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Jaymz Knowlton and Ryan Morrison each were 2 for 3.
Brock Keller tossed four innings, striking out six while allowing three earned runs on eight hits and two walks.
In Game 4, the Blazers had just three hits offensively, from Dalton, JP Tilley and Bennett Comes, falling 1-0. Obst was solid on the mound, striking out seven and allowing four hits and one walk in six scoreless innings.
Centralia College (11-20-1, 1-12 West Region) hosts Pierce in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
