LBCC Splits Again

The Linn-Benton Roadrunners once again split a double-header Tuesday with I-5 rival Lane Community College. The split was the fifth straight for the host Roadrunners, who moved to 11-11 overall and 5-5 in the division with the win and loss.

Pitcher Sam Paterson throws the first pitch of the game 4/12/2011

Game 1: Linn-Benton 6, Lane 3

LB upended the Titans in the first game behind Kellen Sparkes bat and Sam Paterson's arm. Sparkes, a freshman from Corvallis, recorded three hits, an RBI and one run scored to ignite the Roadrunners offense. While Sparkes was leading the offense Paterson (pictured left) was doing a superb job on the mound. He struck out just three but held Lane to just three runs in seven innings of work to pick up his third win of the season.

Coach Greg Hawk said of the victory, "Sam threw well and got great relief help in the first game against Lane."


Game 2: Lane 4, Linn-Benton 0


Lane's Nick Phillips pitched a near perfect game in the night cap to lead the Titans to the win. Phillips threw a complete game one-hitter as the Roadrunners did not help themselves by committing four errors. Sophomore pitcher Mackie Unruh got the loss to fall to 0-4 on the season for LBCC.

"Phillips threw a great game and we committed too many errors to get the win in the second game," Hawk said.

The Roadrunners will be back at home to take on Mt. Hood in a double-header Saturday April 16th.

Baseball Goes .500 for the Week

The Linn-Benton baseball team went 2-2 this past week in double headers against division foes Southwestern Oregon and Mt. Hood CC. The games against Mt. Hood were originally scheduled for Tuesday March 29 in Gresham, but the games were rained out and rescheduled for Thursday March 31. Two days later the Roadrunners traveled to Coos Bay to take on the SOCC Lakers. 

Linn-Benton 7, Mt.Hood 6

In the first game against Mt. Hood Linn-Benton pulled out a 7-6 victory over the Saints. AJ Burke, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Hillsboro, had three strikeouts while picking up the win. Sophomore pitcher Bobby Ragasa recorded the save and the Roadrunners committed just one error.

Mt. Hood 14, Linn-Benton 1

In the second game of the double-header Mt. Hood ran away from LB 14-1. The Saint's bats came alive in the game as they recorded 12 hits and starter Jeremy Burright, from Albany, held the Roadrunners in check by striking out six batters and grabbing the win.

With the split in Gresham LBCC moved to 8-8 overall and 2-2 in the South Region. 


Linn-Benton 4, SOCC 3

LB's next double-header was Saturday in Coos Bay to face Southwestern Oregon Community College. In the first game AJ Burke landed another win while pitching a great game, striking out seven and holding the Lakers to just four hits, to lead the Roadrunners to a 4-3 victory. Bobby Ragasa notched his second save in three days to close the game out as Linn-Benton moved to 3-2 in the South Region.

SOCC 3, Linn-Benton 2

Hours later both teams took the field again to play the second game of the double-header. This time It was SOCC pulling out a close victory, 3-2, by scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Southwestern Oregon's Kyle Davis got the victory as both teams tallied seven hits and four errors.

The loss dropped LBCC to 3-3 in the South Region and 9-9 overall. 

Next week the team will be home to host a double-header against Clackamas CC on April 5th, then will travel to Salem to take on Chemeketa CC on April 9th. Both days the games will start at 1 p.m.