For most, seven is just a number. But to the LBCC baseball team, seven is the number of consecutive NWAC South region titles.
Over the weekend, Linn-Benton faced off against Southwestern Oregon Community College in a series of NWAC baseball games.
The Roadrunners took three out of four games in the matchup to mathematically clinch the NWAC South region title with four games remaining in the regular season. The title cements Linn-Benton as a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NWAC Championship Tournament.
“It’s pretty cool,” said head coach Andy Peterson, “it’s a testament to the boys, our assistant coaches, all the help we get on campus, and our strength coach.”
The first two games of the series between Linn-Benton and Southwestern took place on Saturday, April 27, at Dick McClain Field. The Roadrunners were victorious in both games, winning 2-1 and 8-1.
In Game 1, the Roadrunners had to battle back in a closely fought affair after Southwestern took a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth inning.
Linn-Benton’s Aidan Dougherty scored off of a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth before Cam Ordway delivered the winning run off of a bunt RBI in the bottom of the ninth.
The walk-off was Ordway’s third of the season and his second winning hit in the last nine days.
“I think, over the few games that we’ve had close, we’ve just built off of it and gotten used to being in these situations,” said Ordway
Ordway’s most recent winner marked Linn-Benton’s eighth walk-off win, the most for any team in the NWAC South region.
The second game of the evening proved to be a far less eventful contest as the Roadrunners took the lead early and never let up.
Linn-Benton raced out to a lead in the bottom of the first, with hits from Sam Giansante and Ethan Buckley bringing in runs.
Following a Southwestern double in the top of the fourth to cut the lead by one, Linn-Benton’s Spencer Sullivan singled in a run before Aidan Dougherty scored off a balk to extend the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Dougherty and Sullivan would combine to bat in three more runs before Sullivan would eventually score off of a wild pitch.
On the mound for the Roadrunners, Ever Lamm picked up the win by recording six strikeouts and only allowing two hits through five innings.
“We battled at the dish,” said Ordway, “and I think our pitchers did a great job filling up the zone.”
Linn-Benton and Southwestern would meet again the following day for another doubleheader, this time in Coos Bay, with the Lakers playing host.
Both teams would split games this time out, with Southwestern taking game one 4-1 and Linn-Benton taking game two 4-3.
Jordan Hockett brought in the only run for the Roadrunners in game one before the hosts rattled off four runs between the fifth and the seventh inning to seal the game.
Game 2 served as retribution for Linn-Benton as singles from Andrew Demianew, Jake Holmes, Camden Christenson, and a walk from Evan Chadwick would prove to be the difference.
Southwestern scored three runs in a late comeback attempt before LBCC’s Brody McMullen recorded the save.
Linn-Benton pitcher Gabe Brabec picked up his ninth win of the season following an eight-strikeout performance while only allowing three hits through five innings.
The wins improved LBCC’s overall record to a conference-best mark of 32-8.
The Roadrunners enjoy a well-earned week of rest before their next matchup away against Lane Community College on Thursday, May 9.
