Titans Use Pitching, Defense to Sweep Centralia (Game 2)
After two wins on Saturday in Centralia, the Titans returned home for two more victories on Sunday to complete the weekend sweep of the Trailblazers. Runs were scarce but Tacoma picked up enough to win 3-2, 3-0 and remain in a three-way tie for NWAC Western Division's best conference record.
GAME ONE
Tacoma and Centralia were in a hurry in the first game of the double header as it took just two hours for TCC to put away the Trailblazers 3-2. The Titans used extra base hits to score and great pitching along with key defensive plays to hold on.
Centralia had the first opportunities of the game starting in the first as the second hitter of the inning reached on a single only to be thrown out by Dominick Zombik attempting to steal later in the frame. The Blazers were thrown out on both of their attempts to swipe a base on the day.
In the third, Centralia led off with a solid double and had a chance to draw first blood when the next batter doubled as well. TCC's defense kept them off the board when Jordan Stoner hit cut-off man Elijah Johnson who threw a strike to Zombik to nail Centralia's runner at the plate.
The game's first runs would come from Tacoma in the fifth when Peter Perkins hit a double with one out and scored after Kenton Robillard reached on a fielder's choice combined with a Trailblazers throwing error. With Robillard on third, Johnson smacked a double to send Robillard home and put TCC up 2-0.
Centralia tied the game late with two runs in the top of the eighth and had the opportunity for more. Tacoma starting pitcher Garrett Westberg was lifted with one in, two on, and no outs in the inning. Brandon Reynolds (1-0) retired three straight allowing just one Blazer to score on a sacrifice to minimize the damage.
Westberg went seven plus innings allowing just the two runs while striking out seven and walking none in his solid start. Reynolds also threw a one-two-three ninth to pick up his first win in relief of the season.
TCC handed him the win in the bottom of the eighth after Stoner drew a two out walk and Alex McGarry chased him home with a double in the next at-bat.