Raiders Sweep Clark, Clinch NWAC West No. 2 Seed

Game 1 - Pierce 11, Clark 4

Pierce College baseball locked up the No. 2 seed in the NWAC West with an impressive doubleheader sweep over Clark on Saturday, powered by explosive offense and timely pitching in an 11-4 victory in game one.

The Raiders collected 16 hits in the opener and broke the game open late after holding a narrow 4-3 lead through six innings. Pierce erupted for five runs in the seventh inning and added two more insurance runs over the final two frames to secure the win.

Sophomore catcher Kai Halstead led the offensive charge, finishing 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Jackson Copeland delivered a huge performance at the plate as well, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Tristan Ringrose added two hits, including an RBI double, while Andrew Dyk drove in two runs on a pair of singles.

Pierce struck first in the second inning when Halstead launched a solo home run. The Raiders added two more runs in the third behind RBI hits from Bradley Carl and Halstead to take a 3-0 lead.

Clark battled back in the sixth inning, trimming the deficit to 4-3, but Pierce responded immediately. Dyk delivered an RBI single in the bottom half before the Raiders exploded for five runs in the seventh. Copeland highlighted the inning with a two-run double, while Dyk, Jeb English, and Riley Sanoy all added RBIs.

On the mound, Vayden Lawrence earned the win after throwing six innings, allowing three runs while striking out three. Gavin Thunstrom closed out the final three innings in relief, surrendering just one run to seal the victory.

Game 2 - Pierce 5, Clark 3

Pierce completed the sweep later Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 comeback win over Clark, officially clinching the No. 2 seed in the NWAC West heading into the postseason.

The Raiders trailed 3-1 entering the fifth inning before Tristan Ringrose sparked the comeback with a two-run single that tied the game. Ringrose came through again in the seventh inning, delivering a clutch two-run double to give Pierce its first lead of the game at 5-3.

Ringrose finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the nightcap, accounting for nearly all of Pierce’s offense. Kai Halstead added an RBI single in the first inning, while Bradley Carl scored twice and doubled.

Pierce managed just six hits offensively but made them count in key situations. The Raiders also took advantage of patient at-bats, drawing four walks and executing productive situational baseball with sacrifice hits from Jackson Copeland and Ethan Brimble along with a sacrifice fly from Andrew Dyk.

After Clark scored three early runs, Pierce’s bullpen shut the door the rest of the way. Freddy Frias-Moreno started the game before Broq Powlus delivered 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to keep the Raiders within striking distance. Drechen Vinoray-Perreira closed out the final three innings without allowing a run, giving up just one hit while striking out two to earn the save.

With the sweep, Pierce secured the No. 2 seed in the NWAC West and will now turn its attention to postseason play.

Pierce will host the 2026 NWAC West Super Regional games on Saturday, May 15th and Sunday, May 16th. The Raiders will play the winner of game one between Columbia Basin and Mt. Hood in a double-elimination style bracket at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Pierce will face the same team again Sunday at 12 p.m., with a fourth game scheduled for 3 p.m. if necessary.