LBCC Baseball - Roadrunners Close Out Regular Season with Series Split vs. Lane

The regular season for the Linn-Benton Community College baseball team has finished, but a new journey has just begun. 

On Saturday, May 11, LBCC baseball faced off against Lane Community College in a doubleheader at Dick McClain Field. The Roadrunners and Titans each walked away victorious, with Linn-Benton taking the first game 2-1 and Lane taking the second game 5-1. 

The matches concluded the regular season for both schools before they each compete in the NWAC postseason. 

"We're looking forward to the playoffs," said assistant coach Griffin Williams, "these guys are ready, and these guys are competitors." 

The final home games of the season drew in a packed crowd at Dick McClain Field. LBCC President Lisa Avery kicked off the afternoon by throwing out the first pitch. 

Game 1 saw a sluggish start from both sides before Lane would take a 1-0 lead off of a Ryan Thomas double in the top of the fourth inning. 

The Titans' lead would remain put until the bottom of the sixth when a grounder into a double play from Aidan Dougherty would bring in Sam Giansante for the game-tying run. 

Dougherty would come up clutch once more for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the eighth, singling to right field to bring in Connor Boyd for what happened to be the game's deciding run. 

"I was just hoping to be aggressive and not miss my pitch," said Dougherty. 

Throughout the season, Dougherty had been a vital factor in the team's success, leading Linn-Benton in hits, runs, and batting average. 

Following the game, an on-field ceremony commemorated the graduating players on the team. Fourteen sophomores, joined by friends, family, and coaches, received a plaque from head coach Andy Peterson celebrating their time on the team. 

"I wouldn't trade these last two years for anything," said Dougherty, "I've learned and grown as a person so much because of my teammates and my coaches." 

In game two, the good times continued to roll as a Spencer Sullivan grounder brought home Dougherty to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. 

However, the advantage would be short-lived as a resilient Lane team compiled a five-run flurry between the fourth and seventh innings. The deficit would be too much to overcome for the Roadrunners as the Titans held on to clinch their 24th win of the season. 

"The biggest thing that separated Game 1 versus Game 2 was us not being locked in offensively," said Williams. 

Despite the loss, the team still had plenty to celebrate. The Roadrunners ended the regular season with an overall record of 34-10, a conference record of 30-6, and a seventh consecutive NWAC South Region title. 

During the season, the team earned notable accomplishments such as eight walk-off wins, leading the NWAC in conference hits, and a 19-game win streak between March and April.

Linn-Benton now awaits the results of the NWAC Super-Regional Playoffs to find out who they will be facing in the NWAC Championship Tournament. 

The tournament transpires between May 23 and May 27 in Longview, Washington, where the Roadrunners will be looking to claim their second NWAC Championship in three seasons.