Baseball’s six-game win streak comes to end; shifts focus to NWAACCs

The Saints’ six-game winning streak came to an end during an extra-inning affair last weekend against Southern division foe Lane Community College, but they fast resumed their winning ways.

Mt. Hood clinced the South division title and will enter the NWAACC championship tournament, which starts next Thursday in Longview, Wash., with plenty of momentum.

Hosting the Titans for two games last Saturday, the Saints’ weekend started off rocky.

MHCC were locked in a 1-1 tie with Lane through nine innings of play. The Titans scored in top the 10th to take the lead. MHCC freshman pitcher Joe Piercey took the loss for giving up the lone run in the extra frame.

MHCC was able to bounce back from the 2-1 loss with a convincing win in the second game, scoring seven runs on six hits.

Overcoming two fielding errors, the Saints capitalized on two errors by the visiting Titans during the 7-4 victory. Sophomore pitcher Brandon Williams worked for six innings, punching out four Lane batters while giving up the four runs.

The Saints were aggressive at the plate early. Sophomore Jake Thran drilled his second home run of the season, giving the home team a 2-0 advantage after one inning.

The Titans answered with three runs of their own to take a 3-2 lead, but the Saints fired back for a pair of runs in the second and third innings. Both teams scored in the 5th, but MHCC was able to hold its lead. Sophomore reliever Zev Egli notched yet another save in the Game Two win.

The Saints had an away game Monday sandwiched between the Lane doubleheader and their final two-game set against Clackamas, traveling to Salem to face Chemeketa one final time.

Sophomore Ryan Degner stole the show, homering twice during the convincing road win. His first (a three-run bomb) came during a five-run onslaught in the top of the 4th, and his solo shot in the 7th gave the Saints some insurance after Chemeketa pulled within two runs.

Egli recorded his seventh save of the season during the 7-4 triumph over the Storm, giving sophomore starter Eric Huson the win.

Visiting Clackamas for the final time this season provided more opportunity for the scorching Saints lineup. Three-hit performances by sophomore Cody Childs and Degner propelled MHCC to an 11-3 win.

Degner shined again, going 3-for-4 with a triple and his sixth home run of the season, while driving in five runs. He fell just a double shy of hitting for the cycle, a very rare feat.

Sophomore Jon Bjorklund started for the Saints and gave them eight innings, with plenty of help from the offense. Bjorklund had wiggle room, scattering nine hits for three runs.

In Game Two, a 6-5 Mt. Hood win, the Saints poured in five runs during the 4th to create separation from the Clackamas offense.

Childs was able to drive in sophomore Shea Coates in the top of the 7th, with what proved to be the deciding run to seal the sweep. The pitching committee of Huson, Piercey and Egli threw well enough to fend off the Clackamas bats to preserve the win.

On Thursday, the Saints hosted Linn-Benton for their final two games of the regular season. Scores were unavailable by The Advocate’s press deadline.

Looking forward, MHCC will be taking on either NWAACC host Lower Columbia or Tacoma in the first round of postseason play, which begins next Thursday.