Five-Run 6th Inning Propels Lower Columbia Past Spokane 7-4 in Elimination Game

LONGVIEW, Wash - The Lower Columbia Red Devils survived and advanced, defeating Spokane by a 7-4 score in Game 6 of the 2026 NWAC Baseball Championship on Friday at David Story Field.

The Red Devils had base runners often throughout the game, but found themselves behind 4-2 heading to the sixth inning. After loading the bases with one out, Karsten Hansen rolled one to second base that would bring in a run, but a throwing error to first base brought home a second run, and another error on ensuing throw home cleared the bases and gave LCC a 5-4 lead. Two batters later, Jackson Wendt doubled to bring in two more runs to extend the lead to 7-4.

Rudy Larson earned the win out of the bullpen as he pitched 3.1 innings with no runs allowed. Larson relieved starter Caden Spanier who pitched 4.2 innings with four runs allowed and six strikeouts. All the damage against Spanier came off the bat of Max Workman who hit a pair of two-run home runs in the first and third innings. Workman had three hits and drove in all four runs for the Sasquatch, while the rest of the lineup tallied six hits.

Red Devils's closer Matthew Kosderka struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn his 10th save. 

Lower Columbia tallied 12 hits, with Hansen, Wendt, Martyn Hernandez, Harlan Rowe and Keagan Kelly each recording two hits apiece.

The Red Devils will move on in the tournament and will next take on the loser of the Everett vs. Wenatchee Valley game on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Spokane finishes its season with a 33-14 overall record, another East Region title and a top-8 finish at the NWAC Championship.