Pierce Takes Four Games from Trailblazers

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Centralia College couldn’t stop the Red Raider bats over the weekend, losing a pair of NWAC West Region baseball games to Pierce on Saturday at Ed Wheeler Field and dropping two more on Sunday in Puyallup.

The Raiders won 18-9 and 13-5 on Saturday, then won Sunday’s opener 9-5 before closing out the sweep with a 7-6 win.

Saturday’s opener was a rough outing for Centralia, which dealt 11 walks and committed five errors — which was just fuel on the fire for a Pierce lineup that produced 17 hits and had six players with at least two hits.

Centralia, meanwhile, had 12 hits and drew nine walks, with Trent Jackson going 5 for 6 with a double and driving in five runs. Caden Baker went 2 for 3. 

The Blazers’ pitching improved in the 13-5 Game 2 loss, though the defense committed eight errors that led to 10 unearned runs. Derek Beairsto worked four innings, striking out six and walking just one, but allowed seven runs — just two of which were earned. 

Andrew Dalton went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI, Baker was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, Conor Bardue was 2 for 2 and drove in two runs, Trey Hunt went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and Mattew Beckworth was 2 for 3 with a double.



Evan Overmars went 2 for 4 with a home run and five RBIs for Pierce.

On Sunday, the host Raiders led Game 1 by a 9-0 margin before Centralia scored five in the top of the ninth. The Blazers had eight hits and drew eight walks, but couldn’t get much going against starter Cole Bakker. Bakker went 7.2 innings, fanning four and allowing five hits, before being replaced after 105 pitches. 

Jeremy Vierra went 2 for 4 with a double and Caden Baker was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI for Centralia. 

Sunday’s finale was closer, but the Blazers still couldn’t break through for a win. Pierce scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie, and then win, the series’ final game, 7-6. 

Grant Roomsma went 2 for 4 with a double and drove in two runs and Matt Obst was 2 for 4 with a double for Centralia. Nolan Wasson hit a triple and knocked in two runs.

Nate Wenzel worked all nine innings for Pierce, striking out four and allowing 10 hits without issuing a walk.

Centralia (12-14) hosts Tacoma for a doubleheader on Saturday at Ed Wheeler Field.