Raiders Claim NWAC West Super Regional Title, Advance to Elite 8
Hosting the NWAC West Super Regional at home, the Pierce Raiders took full advantage of the opportunity, sweeping Mt. Hood in the best-of-three series to secure the Super Regional championship and punch their ticket to the NWAC Championship Tournament at Lower Columbia College.
The championship appearance marks the first time in 10 seasons that Pierce Baseball has advanced back to the NWAC Championship Tournament and Elite 8.
Pierce entered the tournament as the West Region host (West No. 2) and awaited the winner of the opening matchup between East No. 3 Columbia Basin and South No. 4 Mt. Hood. After Mt. Hood advanced out of game one, the Saints faced a red-hot Raider squad that dominated both meetings to capture the title.
Game 1 - Pierce 11, Mt. Hood 1 (7 innings)
Pierce opened the series with an emphatic run-rule victory Friday, erupting for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out an 11-1 win in seven innings.
The Raiders struck first in the opening frame when Kai Halstead delivered a two-run single to score Bradley Carl and Nariyuki Dumlao for an early 2-0 advantage. Pierce continued to build the lead throughout the game, highlighted by a dominant performance from Halstead at the plate.
Halstead finished 2-for-2 with a double and five RBIs, driving in runs in the first, fifth, and seventh innings. Jackson Copeland added a two-run performance with an RBI double and a bases-loaded walk, while Andrew Dyk delivered a two-run walk-off single during the decisive seventh inning rally.
Dumlao scored three times and collected two hits, while Bradley Carl also crossed the plate three times and went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base.
On the mound, Santiago Guedez-Rodriguez controlled the game from the start, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings while striking out five. Koshi Arai closed the final inning with one strikeout to secure the mercy-rule victory.
Pierce’s offense capitalized on patience at the plate, drawing seven walks and scoring 11 runs on eight hits.
Game 2 - Pierce 8, Mt. Hood 2
With the Super Regional championship on the line Saturday, Pierce completed the sweep behind a balanced offensive attack and another strong pitching performance in an 8-2 victory.
The Raiders wasted little time getting on the board, as Kai Halstead drove in Tristan Ringrose with an RBI single in the first inning. Pierce added another run in the second before breaking the game open with a five-run fourth inning.
Halstead started the rally with another RBI single before Andrew Dyk cleared the bases with a three-run triple to extend the lead to 6-0. Hudson Cunningham followed with an RBI double to cap the inning and give Pierce full control.
Ringrose continued his standout weekend by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base, while Dyk finished with two hits and three RBIs. Halstead added two more RBIs, and Bradley Carl contributed a pair of hits from the leadoff spot.
Michael LeJeune delivered a dominant start on the mound, throwing seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven. Gavin Thunstrom and Koshi Arai combined to finish the final two innings as Pierce closed out the championship victory.
The Raiders totaled 14 hits in the win, with Dumlao scoring twice and Copeland reaching base three times.
With the Super Regional title secured, Pierce now advances to the NWAC Championship Tournament and Elite 8 at Lower Columbia College, continuing an impressive postseason run with momentum on both sides of the ball.