Blue Mountain Community College's Joe Clifton bats while playing Columbia Basin College on May 8, 2024, in Pendleton. BMCC defeated Columbia Basin twice that day and earned its first playoff birth since 2009.

PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College is in a heated battle for the Northwest Athletic Conference East title, and its two wins over Columbia Basin College on 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.

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.”

BMCC finished the regular season Saturday, May 11, at CBC. Spokane played at Yakima Valley the same day.