Bruin softball splits last week’s games, including two in league play

WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High School (CHS) softball team went 2-2 over four games last week, beating King’s Way Christian, 7-1, on April 14; falling to Kings Way, 6-4, on April 16; defeating Nooksack Valley, 2-1, on April 18; and falling to College Place, 15-5, on April 18.

The Bruins (9-5) opened the week on April 14 against the Knights (5-5), where Gabby Hogue led the way on the mound. She struck out seven and gave up five hits through seven innings, enroute to a 7-1 Trico League win.

In the second game against King’s Way on April 16, CHS was held scoreless through five innings before putting up three runs in the sixth, and one more in the seventh. The Knights had built a 6-0 lead by then, and the Bruins’ late rally came up short.

Senior Halle Kock and sophomore McKenna Carlock each had two hits in the game, while junior Julia Mullinix, senior Madison Russum, and junior Danica Herman each drove in a run. On the mound, Hogue worked seven innings and struck out five, but Kings Way’s early four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference.

Two days later, Columbia bounced back with a close win over the Nooksack Valley Pioneers (6-7). The Bruins scored both of their runs in the bottom of the sixth and then held on in a 2-1 victory. Hogue was sharp again, throwing a complete game and allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out two. At the plate, CHS managed two hits, but Mullinix and Herman each delivered an RBI with their hits.

The Bruins closed the week against the College Place Hawks (13-2), where CHS couln’t match 15 runs from College Place over the final four innings. Kock, Carlock, and Herman each had hits for Columbia, and Herman finished with two RBI. College Place finished with 13 hits and capitalized on a 10-run fourth inning to put the game away.

Across the three games, Columbia scored 11 runs and collected 11 hits while its pitching staff allowed 22 runs and 31 hits.

Next up, the Bruins travel to Seton Catholic for a 4:30 p.m. Trico matchup on April 21, then they’ll head home for a 4 p.m. game on April 23 against Seton to complete the series.