BMCC shortstop Joel Romo whips the ball to first while playing CBC on May 8, 2024, in Pendleton.

PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College is in a heated battle for the NWAC East title, and its two wins over Columbia Basin College on Wednesday, May 8, put the Timberwolves one step closer to their first ever East title.

BMCC opened the day with a 9-6 win, then followed up with a 7-6 win in the second game, surviving a scare from the Hawks, who scored twice in the top of the ninth.

“We have been playing some good ball lately,” BMCC coach Derek Bettinson said. “This is just the second time we have ever clinched a playoff berth. It’s a bunch of misfits who are together from all over the country for a good cause. We got every one of our sophomores in today, and everyone contributed.”

The Timberwolves are tied atop the East standings at 17-9 with Spokane. BMCC secured an NWAC playoff spot — its first since 2009 — with the Game 1 win and a Treasure Valley loss to Big Bend.

BMCC, which has won four games in a row, will finish the regular season Saturday at CBC. Spokane will play at Yakima Valley on Saturday.

“We have to take care of our business and maybe get a little help from Yakima,” Bettinson said.

In the opener, the Timberwolves led 2-1 after four innings, then opened things up with a four-run fifth for a 6-2 lead.

BMCC scored its first two runs in the fifth on bases-loaded walks, followed by a two-run single to right field by Davis Mauzy.

“Davis bats leadoff for us and is a spark plug,” Bettinson said. “Kaden Boyle had a few big hits for us as well.”

Just when BMCC thought it had control of the game, the Hawks scored four runs in the top of the six to tie the score.

No worries. BMCC scored one run in the sixth on a double by Chance Oldham, and in the seventh, Joaquin Velez-Fucal was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, and another run scored on an error.

Boyle went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Otho Savage got the start for BMCC, going five innings. He gave up two runs while striking out four and walking seven. Cameron Smith got the win, and Jace Schow picked up his seventh save.

Alex Chamberlain and Lance Anderson each drove in two runs for CBC, while Xavier Streadbeck hit a double.

In the second game CBC opened the game by leaving three men stranded on base in the first inning, but put a run on the board in the second for a 1-0 lead that would stand to the middle of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, BMCC scored four runs, starting with Boyle scoring on a balk, followed by Joel Romo hitting an RBI single. Cooper Dalton then scored on a wild pitch, and Mauzy hit an RBI single to send Romo across home plate for a 4-1 lead.

CBC added a run in the top of the seventh, and another in the eighth to pull within 4-3.

The Timberwolves scored three in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 7-4. Eliaz Duropan singled to left field, scoring two, and Hunter Hollifield hit an RBI single to account for the runs.

The Hawks came back in the top of the ninth and scored two runs on a home run by Trevor Dale, but left the tying run on base when Hayden Matray grounded out.

“The last inning was a little scary, but we are used to playing close games,” Bettinson said. “We probably lead the league in one-run wins.”

Prep softball

GRANT UNION 15-18, IRRIGON 0-0 — Drew Williams and Lilly Rockhill combined for no-hitter in the Prospectors’ first game against the Knights in Special District 7 play in John Day.

Williams struck out six in two innings of work, and Rockhill struck out five and walked one in two innings, ruining the chance for a perfect game.

Addy Northway hit a triple, while Savannah Watterson, Halle Parsons, Reece Jacobs and Taylor Palmateer all hit doubles for GU (20-3 overall, 12-2 SD7).

Liv Gridley took the loss for the Knights (2-17, 0-12), giving up nine hits while striking out three and walking 12.

In the second game, the Prospectors took control early with a 13-0 lead after the first inning. They added five runs in the second and invoked the mercy rule in the third.

Jacobs hit a home run and drove in three runs for GU, Northway hit two triples and had three RBIs, and Parsons and Gracie Hueckman each had a double and three RBIs.

ECHO/STANFIELD 6, PILOT ROCK 3 — The Rockets took an early lead, then watched the host Cougars take over for a Special District 7 win.

The win earned Echo/Stanfield a spot in the 2A/1A state playoffs.

Pilot Rock scored two runs in the top of the third inning, only to see the Cougars score four in the bottom half of the inning, keyed by a two-run single by Kylee Jackson, and an RBI single by Jamie Weems.

The Cougars (11-11 overall, 7-6 SD7) added two runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Nevaeh Thew for a 6-2 lead.

The Rockets scored one run in the seventh, and had the bases loaded when Paige Moffit popped up to the third baseman for the third out.

Teagan Studer went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Cougars, while Mykael Graham picked up the win, allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and seven walks.

Jada Deist took the loss for Pilot Rock (9-11, 4-9), allowing six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and no walks.