Red Devils Pitching Stifles Timberwolves in 6-2 Game 6 Victory

LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Lower Columbia Red Devils pitching staff limited the Blue Mountain Timberwolves to just three hits in a 6-2 victory in the second elimination game of the 2024 NWAC Baseball Championship on Friday afternoon at David Story Field.

Sophomore starter Owen Luchies was outstanding for the Red Devils (38-14) over six innings, limiting BMCC to one run on three hits. Luchies played to his stellar defense, not allowing a walk while striking out five batters with an efficient 74 pitches. Aaron Platner threw two perfect innings in relief with two strikeouts while Josh Mejia closed things out in the ninth with one unearned run allowed and three punchouts.

After getting shutout on Thursday by Linn-Benton, the host Red Devils wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the first. LCC was able to do so without a hit as they had one walk, one hit batter and were assisted by miscues defensively by the Timberwolves.

Blue Mountain cut into the deficit in the fifth inning as Joe Clifton drove home Kaden Boyle with an RBI single. Lower Columbia put another three spot on the board in the sixth after a bases-loaded walk by Nate Gray, an RBI single by Carson Hayes and a fielder's choice ground out by Langan Naylor.

The Timberwolves scored a final run in the ninth as Evan Grant came home on a throwing error by LCC after he stole third.

Zach Reynolds made the start for BMCC as he threw five solid innings, allowing three runs (all unearned) with a walk and two punchouts.

The Red Devils move on in the loser's bracket and will next play on Saturday at 11:05 a.m. in Game 9 against the loser of the following game between Edmonds and Tacoma.

Blue Mountain wraps up a historic season for the program as they finished second place in the East Region and made their first appearance in the NWAC Baseball Championship with a 27-23 overall record.

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