Trojans Weather the Cold and Get Three Wins

Everett, WA – On a sunny but cold February weekend, the Trojans hosted Wenatchee Valley College, a program that EvCC swept last season in a 4-game home opener series, and outscored the Knights 25-4.  Everett once again scored plenty of runs (28 total) but the Knights were able to steal game two, to give Everett 3 wins and move their overall record to 4-4.  Braeden Terry had a big four games with 6 hits and 5 RBI's, and Aiden Van Rensum had 4 hits and hit .364.  On the mound Mason Devinney stood out with his 7 inning, 5 strikeout performance, as did Adison Mattix who pitched 5.1 innings in relief, not allowing a run, and giving up just 1 hit, striking out 3 batters. 

The Trojans will play their first away games next weekend, traveling to Lower Columbia College on Saturday March 4^th for a doubleheader.  The two ball clubs will then travel back to Everett for a Sunday doubleheader at Funko Field. 

Game 1 Recap

After two scoreless innings, WVC cracked into the score column when a leadoff walk was manufactured into the first run of the ball game.  Everett answered back in the bottom of the 4^th with a ten spot to blow the game open on 5 hits.  Drew Biggerstaff doubled to push across the first run and later singled in the same inning to get two RBI's. Ryan Contreras was another big contributor who's bases loaded double drove in three runs.  Starting pitcher Mason Devinney threw three more shutout innings before the Trojans scored another in the bottom of the 7^th to a 10 run rule walk off.  Offensively EvCC drew 10 walks with 8 hits, with 4 stolen bases.  Sheehan O'Conner stole three bags and went 1 for 3 at the plate.  Van Rensum, Biggerstaff, and Contreras each had doubles and on the mound Devinney went 7 innings, giving up 4 hits, striking out 5, and no earned runs. 

Game 2 Recap

Much like the first game, after two scoreless innings the Knights got on the board first.  This time however Wenatchee scored three runs in the third and held that cushion through the next six innings.  Isaiah Mayfield-Prieto pitched a complete game shutout giving up 7 hits and striking out 5.

Ryan Jeffrey, Braeden Terry, and Aiden Van Rensum each had a two-hit game.  Cade Westerlund was the only other Trojan to record a hit, and went 1-3.  Brandon Brunette got the start and went 2.2 innings, struck out three and gave up the three runs on 5 hits.  Adison Mattix looked great in relief going 5.1 innings with 3 strikeouts and gave up just one hit.  Damon Gaither saw his first action pitching this season and recorded a hitless inning with a strikeout in the 9th. 

Game 3 Recap

After a scoreless first inning, the Trojans capitalized on two WVC errors and hits from Sheehan O'Connor and Johan Shull in the bottom of the 2^nd to take a 3-0 lead.  The Knights answered back in the top of the 3^rd with one out single that was followed by a double to get Wenatchee on the scoreboard.  But that would be all that they would get as Davis Buckner pitched three more shutout innings with Carson Burns and Tyson Willis both combining for hitless innings.  The Trojan bats came alive in the 8^th, scoring 5 runs to extend the lead and eventually win 10-1.  Isaac Hoag paved the way with 5 RBI's and Sheehan O'Connor had a multi-hit game with 2 RBI's. 

Game 4 Recap

With snow predicted later in the day, the teams decided on a 7-inning series finale.  This would end up being the closest of the four contests, but the Trojans prevailed 7-5.  It was not a clean game for EvCC as two errors in the 2^nd inning led to 3 WVC runs.  Everett answered back with runs in the 2^nd, and 3^rd, and put up a big 4 run inning in the 4^th capped with Braeden Terry's single that drove in 2 runs.  The Trojans got another run in the 5^th on Max Paterson's first college career hit, which also happened to be the first home run of the season for EvCC.  Up by three runs, Easton Chrisman and Sheehan O'Connor did enough out of the pen to preserve the win, combining for 3.2 innings pitched giving up 1 hit and striking out three batters.