VANCOUVER — Centralia College baseball was able to come out even in a pair of non-conference weekend doubleheaders at Clark College.
On Saturday the Trailblazers got their win out of the way early with a 3-1 victory in the early game before dropping the second game 8-4.
Rory Escuadro earned the win for Centralia making a relief pitching appearance beginning in the seventh inning after starting the game at third base. On the mound Escuadro threw three complete innings while allowing no runs on two hits and striking out a pair of Penguins. Josh Myer started the game on the bump for the Trailblazers and allowed one run in six innings of work while striking out seven batters.
Josh Parks and Robbie Wall drove in two runs for the Blazers in the eighth inning. First Parks forced home a run when he drew a walk and then Wall scored James Billotti on a sacrifice fly. Gavin Manheimer got the ball rolling for Centralia in that pivotal eighth inning when he scored on a wild pitch.
Titus, Wall, and Kyle Combs had one hit apiece in the game for Centralia
In the nightcap Clark summoned their revenge with an 8-4 win over the Trailblazers. The Penguins scored one run in the first inning and three in the third inning before Centralia put up a two spot in the fourth frame.
Clark answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth then matched runs with Centralia again in the fifth frame. The Penguins pushed another run across the plate in the eighth inning and Centralia plated one run in the ninth inning before they ran out of outs.
Cole Doughty toed the rubber for Centralia to start the game before turning the ball over to Zach Vetter for two innings of work that included two runs and two strikeouts. Dylan Stakelin took over in the sixth inning and notched three innings of work with one earned run on his name.
Centralia managed six hits in the affair. Festus Gilligan, Josh Parks, Gavin O'Donnell, Wall, Manheimer, and Escuadro each had a hit in the game. Wall’s knock was a double while Manheimer legged out a triple. Nole Wollan, Escuadro, and Manheimer each drove in a run.
Lucas Gregory and Brad Grant each had three hits for Clark. Grant and Nick Markantonatos each belted home runs in the Penguin’s winning effort.
On Sunday the Trailblazers luck played out in reverse fashion with a 9-8 loss in game one and a 2-1 victory in the finale.
In the early slugfest Clark grabbed the lead with a run in both the first and six innings and a six spot in the seventh inning. Meanwhile, Centralia was held scoreless until just before the seventh inning stretch that preceded those half dozen runs from the Penguins.
Centralia didn’t slink away after that one-inning shellacking, though, and posted a five spot of their own in the eighth inning to thrust themselves back into contention. Three of those runs scored when James Billotti smacked a triple.
Kyle Combs, Gilligan, Titus, Wall, and Wollan all added hits for Centralia. Gilligan, Johnson, and O'Donnell each drove in a run while Ethan Hori scored two runs on a pair of bases loaded hit-by-pitches.
Cam Hale started the game for Centralia and allowed two earned runs in 5 ⅔ innings pitched. Zach Blake and Andre Scheer combined to pitch the middle innings while Mason Harris took care of the final five outs.
Kai Perreira led Clark with three hits and two RBI’s. Lucas Gregory, Francis and Brant each wrapped doubles for the Penguins.
Centralia bounced back in the final game of the series to register a 2-1 victory.
The Blazers fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but knotted things up in the third inning when Wall drove home Hori with a single.
Adrian Stacey started the game pitching for Centralia and allowed one run on five hits in four innings. Zach Weinert entered the game in relief in the fifth inning and allowed no runs over three innings while striking out two batters.
That hold setup heroics by Josh Krause in the eighth inning when he drove home Nole Wollan with a single on a 0-1 count.
Colton Titus left his position in the field to act as the closer in the ninth. He struck two batters out in a scoreless inning of work to earn the save.
Centralia (2-6) will host Pacific University (JV) on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
