Vikings Split Road Doubleheader at Walla Walla

Walla Walla, WA – April 19th, 2025 — After an opening day split at home versus the Walla Walla Warriors, the Big Bend Vikings hit the road Saturday to close out the four-game set. In a rollercoaster afternoon of baseball, the Vikings once again came away with a split, taking game one in commanding fashion before falling in game two.

Big Bend wasted no time getting on the board in the opener, plating four runs in the top of the first inning and adding another in the second to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Walla Walla responded with two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the third, cutting the Viking lead to just two. But the Big Bend offense wasn't done.

The Vikings kept their foot on the gas, scoring one in the fourth, two in the fifth, three in the seventh, one in the eighth, and capping it with a two-run ninth. Ricardo Leon Guerrero led the offensive charge, going 2-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs. JT Penrod added a big day of his own, driving in three runs as Big Bend cruised to a 14-8 victory.

Game two told a different story.

Early defensive miscues by the Vikings allowed the Warriors to take advantage, putting up four runs across the first two innings. Big Bend chipped away at the deficit but couldn't overcome the early hole. Walla Walla continued to tack on runs late, scoring in the sixth, seventh, and eighth to secure an 8-4 win.

Despite the loss, there were bright spots for the Vikings. Penrod continued his strong day at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Jacob Kanaly turned in a solid relief outing, tossing two shutout innings and striking out three.

With the split, Big Bend moves to 7-9 in NWAC East play. The Vikings now turn their attention to a key road matchup at Yakima Valley College on Wednesday, where they'll look to gain ground in the standings against the Yaks.