Trojans go 1-3 Against Bellevue

Everett, WA – The Trojans took on Bellevue College on Sunday and Monday in a north region showdown that would determine who would take control of the standings and control first place. 

On Sunday in Bellevue, both teams battled a tough weather day with wind, hail, rain, and occasional sun breaks.  The Trojan offense got off to a hot start in game one, scoring at least one run in the first four innings.  After six and a half frames, EvCC held onto a 6-2 lead, but three runs in the bottom of the 6^th brought the home team back to within striking distance.  Everett was hitless and scoreless through the next two innings, and that was enough to open the door as Bellevue pushed across two more runs in the 8^th to take the lead 7-6.  Everett was unable to come up with the equalizer in the 9^th and Bellevue came away with the win. Contreras, Smith, and Green came up with multi-hit games, but it was steady production across the order as the team totaled 11 hits, with three doubles.  Weather played its part in a tough defensive day with four errors that led to 5 unearned runs.  Kenji Miller got the start, going 5.1 innings and Preston Moritz closed the game, going 2.2 innings.  The pitchers combined to give up 13 hits and struck out 4.

Everett appeared to steal back some momentum by putting up 2 runs with 2 outs in the top of the first but Bellevue answered right back with three runs of their own.  Two innings later, the Bulldogs pushed across 5 more runs to effectively take control of the game, and eventually cruised to the 10-3 win.  The Trojans matched Bellevue 8 hits to 8, and cleaned up the defense with just one error, but 11 total walks played to the demise in this one.  Jordan Justice had a solid game at the plate going 2 for 3 and drawing a couple of walks while Xavier Ulrich drove in a run on a 2-4 game, and Cameron Green had the big single that drove in 2 runs. 

Monday proved to be a much better weather day, and while it was cold in the low 50's, there was no rain with several sun breaks.  Game 3 shaped up to look much like Game 1 of the series.  Bellevue held on to a 4-2 lead until Everett capitalized on 5 walks to bring in 4 runs and take a 6-4 lead. Bellevue would then get a run in the 7^th and five huge runs in the 8^th to reclaim the lead and complete the 2^nd comeback win of the series.  It was another sloppy game defensively as 5 errors proved to be too much to overcome, despite a fairly productive offensive game.  As a team the Trojans combined for 8 hits and drew a season high 14 walks. 

The Trojans entered the final game of the series with grit in an effort to avoid the sweep.  Bellevue got a run in the first inning, but the Trojans fought back in the bottom of the 2^nd with 3 runs on 3 hits, two of which were doubles by Xavier Ulrich and Jonathan Kumai.  The Trojans got two more an inning later on 4 hits, a double by Konnor Palmeira and a trio of singles by Braeden Terry, Ben Steck, and Sheehan O'Connor. 

Bellevue would get another run in the 4^th, ending starting pitcher Dylan Matsuoka's night after 3.2 innings pitched.  Jacob Sesso took over to go 2 shutout innings before Bellevue got things going again in the 6^th and cut the Trojan lead down to one at 5-4.  EvCC's bats came back after two scoreless innings to put up a run in the 6^th and one in the 7^th via a Konnor Palmeira solo homerun, his 3^rd of the season.    

Heading into the 9th, the Trojans looked to be in control with a three run lead, but Bellevue once again made a bid for a late game comeback victory by getting all three of those runs back.  With the go ahead run on second, and two outs, Zach Ediger worked out of it by striking out the final batter to give his team a shot to win it in the 9th.   With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Cameron Green drew a walk, and the next batter was hit by a pitch, bringing up Braeden Terry who had a single back in the 3rd inning but popped up in his previous two at bats.  Terry came through with an infield single and an errant throw from the second basemen was able to bring Cameron Green home, giving Everett the 8-7 win and avoiding the sweep.  

The Trojans move to 4-4 in region play, and are scheduled to play Shoreline next weekend who is 2-4, and coming off of 2 wins against Douglas College.  The first day of the series will be a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16th in Everett at 1pm and 4pm, followed by a Sunday doubleheader in Shoreline.  Those games will also be at 1pm and 4pm.