Roadrunners Walk it Off Twice Against Storm

ALBANY, Ore. - Linn-Benton baseball started their south region campaign with a pair of games that came down to the final at-bat. The Roadrunners (10-0, 2-0 NWAC South) defeated Chemeketa Community College 4-3 and 2-1 in a doubleheader at Dick McClain Field.

The first contest saw Linn-Benton score the first run as a third inning sacrifice fly from Bryant Starr scored Jack Lussier. Chemeketa (1-11, 0-2 NWAC South) evened the score in the top of the fourth inning but in the bottom half of the fourth Aiden Hazen recorded an RBI single to score Nick Biagi and give the home team a 2-1 advantage.

The Storm answered back with a run in the sixth inning to even the score 2-2 but Linn-Benton again took the lead in the 8th with a Biagi single to score Boston Caron. Chemeketa again tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings. In the thirteenth inning Hazen drew a bases-loaded walk to score Caron and give the Roadrunners a 4-3 win. Pitcher Kyle Miller earned the victory out of the bullpen.

A seven inning game to conclude the doubleheader started off with Chemeketa scoring in the top of the third inning. Linn-Benton would even the score 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning on a Jacob Lindstrom fielder's choice that scored Lussier.

The teams would stay even into the seventh and final inning. With runners on second and third, Starr hit a ball to the third baseman who could not make a play on it which allowed Starr to reach base and Lindstrom to score from third base to give Linn-Benton the win. Jake Johnson picked up the pitching win in relief.

The Roadrunners have a quick turnaround as they host the Riverhawks of Umpqua Community College on Sunday, March 1. That doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00PM and 3:00PM starts.