Bellevue College baseball got off to a solid start to kick off the 2023 season taking the opening series three games to one over Olympic. Bellevue rode the hot bat of returning all-North Region outfielder Nate Cain and solid pitching depth throughout the four game set.
On Friday, Cam Hoiland and Nate Rasmussen combined for 14 strikeouts in a 4-1 win as the two sophomores allowed only two hits. The duo were then outdone by fellow sophomore Ryan Lynch who tossed five shutout innings allowing only one hit with zero walks and five strikeouts in the nightcap 13-0 win. The power righty threw 38 strikes out of 52 total pitches. Cain’s bat let loose in the blowout win with a double, triple, and two RBI’s.
In game three, sophomore Jake Kaepernick fanned seven and allowed only one hit in the 6-0 win. Rylen Bayne was two-for-three with three RBI’s. His bases-loaded double to the wall in left field cleared the bases for the big blow. Luke Vrable was BC’s fourth starter to allow just one hit in their season debut, but control problems prompted an early exit in the third inning due to pitch count limitations in pre-season set forth by the coaching staff. The walks continued as Bellevue’s pitchers, after executing command all weekend in the previous three games, walked nine in the series finale which allowed Olympic to sneak a 4-1 win. Hoiland was pushed across for Bellevue’s first run in the ninth as the ‘dogs rallied with runners at the corners and only one out. Olympic retired the next two BC batters on big strikeouts to seal the lone win for the Rangers.
Bellevue faces Lower Columbia for a four-game set this upcoming weekend, Saturday Feb. 24 and Sunday Feb. 25. Any
Last Updated February 19, 2023
