The EvCC Trojans Baseball team lost to the Skagit Valley Cardinals 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, April 15 at the newly renovated Everett Memorial Stadium.

Unfortunately, celebrations surrounding the field renovations were cut short as the Cardinals threw a combined no-hitter through 8 innings.

Freshman southpaw (left-hander) Marques Titialii took the mound in Game 1 for Everett. Titialii entered the game with 3.78 ERA. The Cardinals starter was right-hander Kade Mechals who bolstered 1.13 ERA.

Titialii got through the first inning striking out two batters and only walking one. He would have problems the next inning. Titialii would find the third out elusive as he gives up a single to Cardinal third baseman Adam Sullivan. Left fielder Rudy Engstrom followed up with a single to center. Then right fielder Tanner Jacques ripped an RBI single which made it 1-0 Cardinals.

Mechals settled into a rhythm, going 5 scoreless innings, throwing 7 strikeouts and walking only one. He was replaced in the bottom of the sixth by freshman relief pitcher Reid Trammell.

The sixth inning was the closest chance the Trojans had come within winning the first game. After Trojan shortstop Kyle Rodriguez led the inning off with a  groundout back to the pitcher, centerfielder Drake Simmons followed with a patient at-bat which led to a walk. Cameron McGrath, the second baseman also followed suit and walked.

The Trojans had the tying run, as well as the go-ahead, run in scoring position for the first time in the game without recording a base hit.

But, Trent Tinglestad struck-out swinging for the second out and it all came down to first baseman Nic Anderson to keep their hopes alive. Anderson failed as he too struck-out swinging to end the inning. Two base runners were stranded and still, the Trojans hadn’t recorded a base hit.

In the seventh inning, Titialii was replaced by freshman relief pitcher Gabe Smith. Titialii pitched six innings giving up 1 run, 5 hits, walked one, but threw 9 strikeouts.

Smith would pitch the final three innings of the ballgame giving up no hits, no runs,  and striking 3 batters out.

Through 8 innings, Skagit Valley Cardinals pitchers Mechals and Trammels were throwing a combined no-hitter.  Finally, in the bottom of the 9th Trojans second baseman, Cameron McGrath led the inning off with a single to break up the no-hitter.  Despite the single, the Trojans failed to get McGrath around to score as he was put into a fielders choice at second base for the second out of the inning.

McCormick flew out to centerfield for the final out giving the Cardinals a 1-0  win and Trammell would pick up his first save in Conference Play.

For the complete box score visit the NWAC website by clicking on the link here

http://nwaacc.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=442947