Raiders Finish Strong Season Among NWAC’s Best
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Linn-Benton | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
|
Pierce | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
The postseason run for Pierce College came to an end on Friday, May 22 as the Raiders fell 5-0 to defending NWAC Champion Linn-Benton College in an elimination game at the NWAC Baseball Championship.
Both teams entered Friday’s matchup looking to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament after opening-round losses on Thursday. Linn-Benton, the reigning 2025 NWAC Champions, dropped their opener to Wenatchee Valley, while Pierce fell to Everett in their tournament debut.
Although the Raiders were unable to extend their stay in the tournament, the appearance marked a major milestone for the program as Pierce reached the NWAC Championship tournament for the first time since 2016. The Raiders finished the 2026 season with an overall record of 28-22 and a 16-8 mark in West Region play after earning the No. 2 seed from the West. Pierce last won the NWAC Championship in 2012.
Linn-Benton broke through with runs in the middle innings and kept the Raider offense off the scoreboard throughout the contest. Pierce collected five hits on the afternoon, including doubles from Tristan Ringrose and Yacel Limonta.
Ringrose, Kai Halstead, Limonta, Jackson Copeland, and Christian Dominno each recorded hits for Pierce. The Raiders threatened at times but were unable to capitalize, leaving seven runners on base while striking out 10 times.
On the mound, Santiago Guedez-Rodriguez gave Pierce a strong start in the season finale. The sophomore right-hander tossed six innings while allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out five. Vayden Lawrence added 2.1 innings of relief, while Freddy Frias-Moreno and Koshi Arai combined to finish the game.
Defensively, Pierce turned a double play behind Tristan Ringrose, Jackson Copeland, and Jeb English.
Despite the early exit from the tournament, the Raiders put together one of the program’s strongest seasons in recent years, returning to the NWAC Championship stage for the first time in a decade and reestablishing themselves among the top teams in the West Region.