Pendleton, OR — March 14, 2026 — Clark College battled through a long day on the road Saturday, splitting a doubleheader with Blue Mountain Community College. The Penguins captured the opener 9–4 before dropping the second game 6–4 despite an early offensive surge.
Game One: Late Offense Powers Clark to 9–4 Win
Clark rallied from an early deficit and used a big seventh inning to pull away in the first game.
Blue Mountain jumped ahead with runs in the first and second innings to take a 2–0 lead, but Clark responded in the third. Pressure on the bases forced a defensive error that allowed Drew Yount and Lucas Tiernan to score and tie the game.
The Penguins grabbed their first lead in the fourth inning when Tiernan delivered an RBI single to bring home Caden Taylor.
After Blue Mountain tied the game again in the sixth, Clark exploded for three runs in the seventh. Yount was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run, followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Kobin Mullins and another bases-loaded hit-by-pitch that scored Jase Pashales.
Clark added insurance in the ninth when Caleb Dale drove in two runs with a clutch single. Another run scored on a wild pitch to seal the 9–4 victory.
Tiernan led the offense, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Dale finished with two hits and two RBIs.
On the mound, Kaedon Cruse started the game and struck out four over four innings. Rylan Taguchi earned the win with five innings of relief, allowing two runs while keeping Blue Mountain from mounting a comeback.
Game Two: Early Lead Slips Away in 6–4 Loss
Clark started strong in the second game, jumping out to an early lead.
The Penguins scored first in the opening inning when Kobin Mullins tripled and drove in Drew Yount. Clark extended the advantage in the third inning, capitalizing on walks and defensive miscues. Parker Peschel drew a bases-loaded walk, and Lucas Tiernan followed with a two-run single to give Clark a 4–0 lead.
Blue Mountain responded in the third with a run before breaking through in the fourth inning. A combination of timely hits and walks allowed the home team to score four runs and tie the game 4–4.
In the fifth inning, Blue Mountain took the lead on a solo home run from Ryder Loftis, making it 5–4, and their bullpen held Clark scoreless the rest of the way.
Clark recorded eight hits in the game, with Caden Taylor and Rylan Taguchi each collecting two. Yount reached base four times with three walks and scored twice.
On the mound, Erik Ronquist started for Clark and worked into the fourth inning before Garrett Maunu took over in relief.
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