Clark baseball weekend sees first victory

The first baseball weekend for Clark College since 1992 produced a victory.

Clark edged Walla Walla 2-1 in 10 innings on Sunday in the second game of a doubleheader. Host Walla Walla won the opener 5-2.

The Penguins were coming off a sweep by Blue Mountain Community College on Saturday in Pendleton, Ore. Clark fell 7-6 in 11 innings and 4-3 in a five-inning game shortened due to darkness.

But it was Sunday’s effort that coach Don Freeman praised.

“We had lots of walks and errors the first day,” he said. “We haven’t been outside much. We played much better against Walla Walla, more competitive.”

Connor Dreesbach was the winning pitcher in relief Sunday with Union grad Brandon Brown picking up the save.

Prairie grad Jackson Stellfox drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th.

Fort Vancouver grad Zach Girod went 2 for 3 with a double.

On Saturday, Evan Pickett was a combined 4 for 8 with two doubles and two RBI for Clark. Nick Woods also had two hits in the season-opening loss.

Clark tied the first game at 6-6 with a run in the eighth before falling in the bottom of the 11th.

Clark is next scheduled to play a doubleheader at Chemeketa in Salem, Ore., on Wednesday. The Penguins play their first 15 games on the road before opening at home on March 26.

Saturday’s Games

BLUE MOUNTAIN 7-4, CLARK 6-3

First Game (11 innings)

Clark 111 020 010 00 — 6 8 4

Blue Mountain 024 010 000 01 — 7 10 3

Clark pitchers — Tyler Dunn 2 2/3 IP 4H 4ER; Tyler Nielson 4 1/3 IP 3H 1R 5k; Ryan Ecalbarger 2IP 2K; Brandon Brown 2 IP, loss, 1K, 1H, 1ER.

Clark hitters — Andy Breshears 1-2 2B SB, Jackson Stellfox 1-5, Zach Girod 1-5, Evan Pickett 2-6 2B 2RBI, Nick Woods 2-5, Logan Rubino 1-2.

Second Game (5 innings, darkness)

Clark 000 21 — 3 6 1

Blue Mountain 000 13 — 4 6 0

Clark pitchers — Jake Dowers 4 IP, 6H 3ER 4K; Conner Dreesbach 2/3 IP, loss, 1ER 1K 2BB,

Clark hitters –Corey Henning 1-2, Evan Pickett 2-2 2B, Zach Girod 1-2 3B 2RBI, Taylor Dunn 1-2 RBI, Lee Sheller 1-2.

Sunday’s Games

WALLA WALLA 5-1, CLARK 2-1

First Game

Clark 000 000 200 — 2 4 0

Walla Walla 004 000 10x — 5 9 1

Clark pitching — Eric Weir 5 IP, loss 2K 1 bb, 4 run; Jake Snyder 3 IP 2H 1 ER.

Clark hitters — Taylor Dunn 1-2 2B run; Zach Girod 1-4 2B RBI; Evan Pickett 1-3 RBI; Joel Johnson 1-2.

Second Game (10 innings)

Clark 000 001 000 1 — 2 5 0

Walla Walla 000 000 100 0 — 1 6 1

Clark pitchers — Chase Anderson 6 IP, 1K, 4 hits, 0 runs; Conner Dreesbach 3 IP, win, 1 hit; Brandon Brown save 1 IP, 1 hit 1K.

Clark hitters — Zach Girad 2-3 run 2B; Pickett 1-4; CJ Watson 1-4 RBI; Logan Rubino 1-2; Jackson Stellfox RBI sac fly winning RBI.