LONGVIEW, Wash. – In a thrilling contest held at David Story Field on Saturday, the Lane Titans emerged victorious over regional rivals Linn-Benton with a final score of 3-2, propelling them to the next stage of the NWAC Baseball Championship.
Pitcher Cole Calnon delivered a standout performance, going the distance and impressively recording six strikeouts. Despite conceding two runs in the first inning, Calnon displayed remarkable composure, subsequently shutting out the Roadrunners over the remaining eight innings. His exceptional accuracy was evident as he threw an impressive 84 strikes out of 121 pitches, consistently finding the strike zone.
After falling behind 2-0, the Titans showcased their resilience by mounting a two-run comeback in the third inning. Bryan Rojas kick-started the rally by driving in the first run with an RBI single, followed by Calnon's contribution in capitalizing on a fielding error to drive in another run. In the sixth inning, Nathan Marshall's two-out RBI single provided the Titans with the decisive go-ahead run, securing their first and only lead of the game.
Calnon's dominance on the mound continued as he skillfully prevented the Roadrunners from advancing beyond first base in the final four innings. Rojas led the offensive charge once again, delivering an outstanding 3-for-4 performance, further enhancing his tournament statistics to an impressive 9-for-10 over three games.
The Roadrunners displayed their talent as well, with Dylan Rush delivering a solid pitching performance, allowing only three runs over seven innings. Rush recorded two strikeouts and did not issue any walks. Camden Stephens entered the game for the final two innings, effectively stifling the Titans' offense and denying them any baserunners. Trey Nelson contributed with a 2-for-4 performance for Linn-Benton, while Spencer Sullivan and Daniel Pruitt each contributed with RBI hits.
With this crucial victory, the Titans advance further in the tournament, securing their place in the final four. The Titans are set to face Spokane in the semifinals, scheduled for Sunday, May 26, with a potential start time of 12:05 p.m. Fans unable to attend in person can cheer on the Titans while watching via the NWAC Sports Network.
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $850 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 13,000 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.