Bellevue College posted a pair of victories at the rain-delayed NWAC Softball Championships, but saw its hopes of advancing end when second-seeded Douglas overcame a six-run deficit and rallied for an 11-9 victory on Sunday.
After Friday’s first-round games were washed out at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex in Spokane, the Bulldogs finally opened the tournament with a 17-8 victory over Clackamas on Saturday. BC then dropped 4-2 decision to Walla Walla, but bounced back to defeat Centralia 19-11 in its third game of the day.
The victory over Centralia was the 500th career victory at Bellevue College for head coach Leah Francis..
Against Douglas, the Bulldogs built a 9-3 lead after four innings, but the Royals rallied with four runs in the fifth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh, while BC failed to score again..
BC finished the season 34-15 overall, after tying for third in the NWAC North Region with a 20-12 record.
In the 17-8 opening win over Clackamas, the Bulldogs trailed 6-5 after three innings, but rallied with three runs in the fourth, five in the fifth and four more in the sixth. Freshman shortstop Tatum Dow had two homers and six RBIs for BC, and sophomore Madison Martinez had a solo homer and double in the 13-hit attack. Sophomore Ryley Eldridge got the win in relief of Rhaney Harris.
The Bulldogs fell to Walla Walla 4-2, despite outhitting the Warriors 8-6. Walla Walla scored an unearned run in the second, and added two in the third, but Dow answered with a two-run homer in the bottom half. The Warriors capitalized on another error for their final run in the fourth. BC loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to score.
Dow went 5-for-5 with a homer, double and eight RBIs to pace the 17-hit outburst in the 19-11 victory over Centralia.The Trailblazers took an 8-5 lead with six runs in the third, but BC regained the lead for good with six runs in the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Gabby Koehler had a homer, double and five RBIs. Martinez picked up the pitching victory with five innings of relief.
The Bulldogs, swept by Douglas in a pair of conference doubleheaders, appeared on the verge of turning the tables before the Canadians rallied to end BC’s season, 11-9. Martinez was 3-for4 with a double and two RBIs, and Dow had a double and three more RBIs. BC managed just one hit against reliever Jessica Podskanly over the final 3 1/3 innings.
Last Updated May 21, 2018
