Vikes Fall to Columbia Basin in Conference Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Big Bend | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
|
Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Big Bend | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|
Columbia Basin | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 14 | 15 | 1 |
BBCC opened up conference play with a tough matchup against Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA, on Wednesday, March 26. The Vikings battled but ultimately fell short in both games of the doubleheader.
Game 1: Pitching Shines, Offense Struggles
Garin Gurtler got the start on the mound and delivered a stellar performance. He tossed seven innings of one-run baseball, striking out six without issuing a single walk. Despite Gurtler's dominance, he exited the game in the eighth inning trailing 1-0. Garrison Garton took over in relief and managed to navigate several challenging plays, allowing just one additional run.
Offensively, BBCC couldn't find the key hit when needed, leaving 11 runners on base—10 of them in scoring position. The inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities proved costly as the Vikings dropped the opener 2-0.
Game 2: Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome
The second game unraveled quickly for BBCC. Columbia Basin put up seven runs in the first inning, followed by three in the second and one more in the third. With the game out of reach early, BBCC's offense continued to struggle, failing to push a run across. The contest ended in a 14-0 loss via the mercy rule, marking a tough start to conference play.
Coach Tunstall's Take
Following the disappointing losses, Head Coach Chase Tunstall did not hold back in his assessment of the team's performance:
"It's just not good enough. We have shown time and time again that we can compete at a high level. We've shown that we can execute in critical moments, and we missed every opportunity that we were presented with today. We got away from what we have been preaching from day one and saw the results. We have a quick turnaround with them coming to our yard on Saturday, so we need to flush it and get back to work."
Looking Ahead
BBCC will have a chance to bounce back as they host Columbia Basin on Saturday, March 29, to wrap up the four-game series. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM, with the second game to follow at 4:00 PM at Viking Field.