First Day of CCC-NWC Challenge Delivers Plethora of Stadium Firsts for Hilken
PORTLAND, Ore.—By the end of the day Friday, the brand new Hilken Community Stadium saw its first extra-inning game, first walk-off play and first rain delay on the first day of the Cascade-Northwest Challenge.
The rain delay came in the second game of the challenge, which was the first game in the tourney for host Concordia.
Concordia led Puget Sound 4-1 with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the third when play was suspended due to the rain. After a 30-minute wait, the two coaches decided to postpone the game and finish it on Saturday.
Here's the updated schedule for the tournament:
| Day |
Time |
Home Team |
Away Team |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 |
10 a.m. |
Concordia |
Puget Sound (resumed) |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 |
1 p.m. |
Puget Sound |
Pacific |
| Saturday, Feb. 25 |
4 p.m. |
Oregon Tech |
Concordia |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 |
10 a.m. |
Puget Sound |
Oregon Tech |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 |
1 p.m. |
Oregon Tech |
Puget Sound |
| Sunday, Feb. 26 |
4 p.m. |
Concordia |
Pacific |
PACIFIC 2, OIT 1 (10 INNINGS) - BOX SCORE
Meanwhile, Pacific and Oregon Tech provided the rest of the stadium firsts Friday with a tight pitcher's duel that Pacific won, 2-1, in the bottom of the tenth.
Pacific's Nate Rasmussen, who came into pitch the final two innings after starting at second, brought home the game-winning run with a hard-hit ground ball to second that OIT's second baseman couldn't handle. That allowed Therone Bridges, who came in to pinch run for Grant Gabriel at first, to score from second.
Both teams had chances before the final run, though, as each left the bases loaded their last time up before the bottom of the tenth. OIT loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the tenth, but the teams' last two batters struck out and flew out to center, respectively, to end the threat.
Earlier, both of the game's starting pitchers threw gems for their respective sides, as each only allowed one to score, while throwing over 100 pitches. Pacific's starter Chad Fahey went eight innings for his team, giving up only five hits and two walks. Meanwhile, OIT starter Aaron Jorgensen went seven innings with six strikeouts and only one walk.
Pacific will next play Puget Sound tomorrow, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m., while OIT caps the day tomorrow with a game against Concordia at 4 p.m.