Kleinschmit, Holly Lead Roadrunners to 1-0 Shutout of Lower Columbia to End Day 1

LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Linn-Benton Roadrunners got a combined shutout from pitchers Ethan Kleinschmit and Russell Holly to lead them to a 1-0 victory over the Lower Columbia Red Devils to end day one of the 2024 NWAC Baseball Championship on Thursday at LCC's David Story Field.

Playing against the host team in front of a packed crowd did not faze the Linn-Benton pitchers on Thursday night as Kleinschmit and Holly combined to allow just three hits with 12 strikeouts.

Kleinschmit threw a gem as the starter, going 7.1 innings with three hits allowed, three walks and nine punchouts. In the top of the eighth inning, the southpaw found himself in a bit of trouble after issuing back-to-back one-out walks. In stepped Holly who shutdown the Red Devils best scoring opportunity of the night with back-to-back strikeouts. Holly came back in for the ninth and allowed a two-out walk before ending the game with a fly out.

The South region champion Roadrunners (35-10) were limited to just three hits overall as well, but two of those hits were consecutive doubles to start the bottom of the sixth inning. Spencer Sullivan opened the frame with a double before Kace Naone had the lone RBI of the game with another double. LBCC only had one other hit off LCC starter Hunter Lutman who went five innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts.

Stephen Hammergren pitched three innings in relief for the Red Devils (37-14) without giving up a hit and striking out three. Brayden Oram led the offense going 1-for-4 with a double.

The Roadrunners will continue in the winner's bracket, taking on Everett on Friday at 7:35 p.m. Lower Columbia will go to the loser's bracket, facing Blue Mountain in a loser-out game on Friday at 12:35 p.m.

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