BBCC Splits Road Doubleheader with Yakima Valley, Eyes Crucial Home Series

With only three series remaining in the regular season, Big Bend Community College hit the road to face Yakima Valley College on Wednesday, April 23. The Vikings opened the day strong behind another stellar performance from sophomore ace Garin Gurtler, but defensive woes in game two led to a frustrating split on the day.

In game one, BBCC turned to the ever-reliable Gurtler, who continued to solidify his impressive sophomore campaign. The right-hander tossed seven quality innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking none. His sharp outing set the tone for the Viking offense, which steadily built momentum throughout the game.

The Vikings struck early and often—plating one in the first, another in the second, then erupting for four runs in the third to seize control. They added insurance with single runs in the sixth and eighth en route to a 9-4 victory. Blaine Macdonald fueled the offensive surge, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and driving in three runs. Kason Bleckert also delivered a strong performance, collecting three hits of his own to keep the pressure on Yakima Valley's pitching staff.

However, game two told a completely different story.

What began as a promising start quickly unraveled in the bottom of the first inning. With a chance to escape the frame unscathed, BBCC's defense faltered with two failed double play attempts that opened the floodgates. Yakima Valley capitalized, scoring eight runs in the inning—a deficit the Vikings couldn't overcome.

Despite a solid offensive effort from Roman Basurto, who went 3-for-4, BBCC couldn't mount a comeback and eventually fell 13-3 in eight innings due to the mercy rule.

The split drops BBCC to 8-10 in conference play, placing added urgency on the remainder of the season. Every game moving forward holds playoff implications, and the Vikings will need to tighten up defensively as they return home to host Yakima Valley in a pivotal doubleheader on Saturday, April 26, to close out the four-game set.

BBCC is now firmly in must-win territory—with postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Vikings will look to bounce back and make a statement at home.