Clark College dropped its opening game of the NWAACC Baseball Championships, losing 8-7 to Bellevue in 11 innings Thursday afternoon.
The Penguins are still alive in the double-elimination tournament at Story Field in Longview. But Clark must win five straight games beginning Friday against Tacoma at 9:35 a.m.
Clark rallied from a 7-3 deficit Thursday, scoring three in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Down to its last strike, Clark tied the game when Michael Gonzales’ bloop single scored Jordan Swofford from second base.
Clark starting pitcher Travis Eckert posted a 10-1 regular-season record and a 0.70 ERA, the lowest among NWAACC starting pitchers. But the seven runs he surrendered Thursday in 6 2/3 innings were as many as he allowed over 90 innings in the regular season.
Bellevue scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings off the South Region player of the year.
Clark tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth thanks to a two-out rally helped by a Kyle Vanderkin double and two Bellevue errors.
Bellevue scored four runs in the seventh to retake the lead. Aaron Stroosma hit a two-out bases-loaded double to score two. John Bodenhamer followed with a single to drive in two more runs and chase Eckert from the game.
