For being the last team into the NWAC softball tournament, the Clark College Penguins probably lasted longer than anyone thought.
Clark’s run in Spokane did come to an end Saturday, but the No. 16-seed Penguins left the tournament 2-2.
Saturday started with a 5-2 win to knock out NWAC South rival Mt. Hood in rainy conditions. The day — and tournament — ended for the Penguins with a 12-6 loss to No. 3 seed Wenatchee Valley.
Madison Anderson’s two-out two-run home run in the fifth inning helped eliminate No. 15 Mt. Hood. Along with Anderson, Lucy Yazzolino, Shaz Nakoa-Chung and Jazmyn Nedzwecky had two hits each.
Wenatchee Valley scored five runs in the first and seventh innings to hold off Clark. But the Penguins made it interesting by getting to within 7-5 going into the seventh.
Nakoa-Chung hit a double and home run, knocking in two runs, and Chelsea Soong hit a solo home run as well for Clark. Karley Yoshioka was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
The Penguins conclude their season 17-20.
The NWAC tournament continues through Monday in Spokane.
In other games Saturday:
• No. 4 seed Clackamas went 0-2 and was eliminated. The Cougars lost to No. 1 Douglas 8-7 in the winner’s bracket. Camas High grad Tori O’Neill was 3 for 4 with a double, and Prairie grad Jamie Phares was 2 for 3 with a double and RBI for the Cougars. Clackamas then lost to Wenatchee Valley 6-4. O’Neill was 1 for 2 and Phares 1 for 3.
• No. 10 Lower Columbia was eliminated by No. 6 Bellevue 7-4. LCC is coached by Prairie grad and former Skyview and Fort Vancouver coach Traci Fuller.
• Bellevue went on to oust North Idaho 15-5. Camas grad Emma Jimenez doubled in two runs and scored twice for Bellevue (35-14), which will play Wenatchee Valley (36-11) on Sunday. For North Idaho, Skyview grad Mckenzie Schaller was 4 for 4 with an RBI.
