Reid Madariaga and Cody Russell were the shining stars of the day, on Saturday, leading the Raiders to a sweep of the top-ranked Lower Columbia College Red Devils. The Raiders took the opener, 8-1, and finished the day with a 5-2 win.
Madariagagave a dominant performance on the mound, in the opener, holding Red Devils batters to just one hit over 9 innings, and allowing just one unearned run. Russell, who returned to the Raiders just 2 weeks ago, had a stellar day at the plate, collecting 5 hits in 8 at bats, and scoring 3 runs, while driving in 2 runs. The two wins kept the Raiders atop the West Division standings, tied with Tacoma at 6-1, while improving their overall record to 18-9.
Game 1 summary,Raiders win 8-1:
Reid Madariaga was more than the top-ranked Red Devils could handle, from start to finish on Saturday. The freshman left-hander faced just LCC 33 batters, giving up just one hit, allowing only one unearned run, striking out 3, and walking just 2. The win improved Madariaga'srecord to 4-2, and lowered his earned run average to a team-leading 1.75 (7th in the NWAC). The Raiders jumped on Red Devils starter Camden Oram for 3 runs in the 4th inning, on a 2-run triple by Tommy Takayoshi. Takayoshiscored on Richard Redding's sacrifice fly to right field. Pierce exploded for 5 runs in the 6th, on a 2-run single by Riley Paulino, and RBI singles by Richard Redding, Cody Russell, and Balas Buckmaster. Paulino, who entered the game in the top of the 5th, had the play of the day, robbing Ethan Stacy of extra bases, and then throwing out Matt Lewis before he could return to 1st base. Russell led the Raider's offense, going 3-5 at the plate (3 singles),scoring one run and driving in one. Takayoshi went 2-2, scored twice and drove in 2, while collecting 2 walks. (https://nwacsports.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220415_gupo.xml)
Game 2 summary, Raiders win 5-2:
Starter Riley Paulino and reliever Parker Goincombined for a 7 inning gem, as the Raiders completed the 2-game sweep of the Red Devils. Paulino gave up 2 earned runs on 5 hits over the first 3 plus innings of the game. Goincame on after Paulinoyielded 2 singles to lead off the top of the 4th inning, and shut down the Lower Columbia bats over the final 4 innings, allowing no runs, no hits, striking out 3, and walking 3. Goin picked up the win, improving his record to 1-2 on the season. Russell continued his hot day at the plate, going 2-3, with a double and single, reaching base on a walk,scoring 2 runs and drovingin one. DH Ryan An collected 2 hits in 4 at-bats, with a double and a single, and scored a run. Caden Stinson drove in 2 runs, with a single in the 2nd inning, and what proved to be the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the 4th. (https://nwacsports.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220415_8xk1.xml)
Pierce travels to Longview on Saturday, to take on Lower Columbia in the Day 2 of the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
