Titans Sweep Raiders with Walk-Off Win

The Pierce Raiders traveled to Tacoma to take on Tacoma CC at Minnitti Field on Sunday, May 7^th. The Raiders fell to the Titans in both games on Sunday, moving their overall season record to 21-22 and 9-11 in West Region play.

Pierce struggled early in the game as the Titans scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning, and two more in the second inning. The Raiders silenced Tacoma in the third inning, but Tacoma added four more runs in the fourth inning to make it a 12-0 ball game. Pierce scored two runs in each the fifth and sixth innings, making the score 12-4. Tacoma added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh ending the game early with a 10-run lead with a score of 14-4. The Raiders knocked around five hits on the day. Garrett Smith had two hits for the Raiders as well as one RBI and one run. Caden Stinson and Michael Moore each had one hit for the Raiders, as well as Kedren Kinzie, who sent a homerun over the left field fence in the top of the fifth inning. Drake Anderson started on the hill, but was quickly replaced by Lincoln Gamble. Anderson gave up four hits, and six runs in the seven batters he faced. Gamble pitched 3.2 innings striking out three, while giving up six hits, six runs, and three walks. Ashton Olson finished the game on the mound for Pierce, pitching 2.2 innings and strking out one. Olson gave up 2 hits, 2 runs, and walked one batter.

Game four of the series went a little differently for the Raiders as they kept a tied ball game through extra innings against Tacoma. Pierce remained scoreless through the fourth inning, trailing Tacoma 3-0. The Raiders managed to put up one run in the fifth inning off a double to right-center from Ryan Gerlitz, marking his second hit of the game. Steven Moore also added two hits for the Raiders including a double for extra bases. Kaden Bertram, Garrett Smith, and Caden Stinson each had one hit for the Raiders. Bertram and Stinson each drove in a run in the top of the seventh inning, tying the game 3-3. Pierce added another run in the bottom of the eighth inning, off of a sacrifice fly from Joe Scheffler to take the lead 4-3. Tacoma answered back in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game and added another run in the bottom of the ninth to take the win in extra innings. Kailen Kimata earned his eighth start of the season, pitching 3.2 innings. Kimata gave up four hits, three runs, and walked three. Curran Jacobs entered the game in the fourth inning and lasted 1.1 innings for the Raiders. Joby Johnson faced the Titans for the second time in the series, pitching 3.1 innings. Johnson gave up two hits, two runs, one walk, and struck out two.