Empty-Handed After 20: Storm Show Grit in Doubleheader Duels

ALBANY, Ore. — They say baseball is a game of inches, but on Friday afternoon at Dick McClain Field, it felt more like a game of single heartbeats. Facing a Linn-Benton Roadrunners squad that entered the day a perfect 8-0, the Chemeketa Storm (1-11, 0-2) played 20 innings of gritty, high-stakes baseball.

While the scoreboard ultimately favored the home team in both halves of the doubleheader, the Storm proved they can go toe-to-toe with the NWAC's elite, falling in a 13-inning marathon and a 7-inning pitching duel by a combined total of just two runs.

The Marathon: 13 Innings of Grit

Final: Linn-Benton 4, Chemeketa 3

Game one was a heavyweight bout that refused to end. For over three hours, the Storm and Roadrunners traded zeros, web gems, and clutch hits in a 13-inning saga.

J. Klee set the tone early for Chemeketa, navigating a potent LBCC lineup with veteran poise. Klee tossed 6.2 innings, surrendering only two runs while striking out three. When the Roadrunners managed to take a 3-2 lead into the 9th, the Storm showed their teeth. T. Gertner delivered the biggest hit of the young season, a clutch RBI single to right-center that scored K. Sheller and forced extra innings.

The bullpen battle that followed was legendary. M. Eaton turned in a heroic relief performance, throwing 6.0 innings of three-hit ball. However, the tank finally ran dry in the bottom of the 13th. With the bases loaded, a walk-off walk to LBCC's A. Hazen ended the marathon in the most painful way possible.

• Storm Standout: L. Irish was a spark plug at the top of the order, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

• The Leather: The Storm defense turned two crucial double plays to keep the game alive in the extra frames.

The Duel: Daravivanh's Gem Spoiled

Final: Linn-Benton 2, Chemeketa 1

If game one was an epic, game two was a sprint—a tense, 7-inning affair dominated by the men on the mound. Chemeketa's R. Daravivanh turned in a masterclass, stifling the Roadrunners for 5.1 innings. Daravivanh racked up five strikeouts and allowed just one earned run, keeping the undefeated hosts off-balance with a sharp breaking ball and pinpoint command.

The Storm took an early 1-0 lead in the 3rd when S. Tsuma laced an RBI single to center, scoring J. Vaccaro. But Linn-Benton, finding the late-inning magic that often follows undefeated teams, managed to tie it in the bottom of the 3rd.

The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the bottom of the 7th. With the pressure mounting, a defensive error allowed the winning run to cross the plate, handing the Roadrunners a walk-off victory and a sweep of the day.

The Statistical Takeaway

Despite the 1-11 record, the underlying numbers from Friday suggest the Storm are much better than their win-loss column indicates.

The Storm pitching staff held a team that was averaging nearly 8 runs a game to just 6 earned runs over 20 innings. That is progress you can build on.

The Bottom Line

Losing two walk-offs in one day is a psychological gut punch, but the Storm should walk away with their heads high. They took the #1 team in the region to the absolute limit twice. If Chemeketa continues to pitch with this level of efficiency, the "W" column is going to start filling up very quickly.

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