Columbia Basin’s 5-4 win over Tacoma on Saturday afternoon had to have Tri-City baseball fans smiling as a familiar trio powered the Hawks’ offense.

Brandon Pocasangre, Dalton Johnson and Chad Bettinson combined for 10 of CBC’s 13 hits, Pocasangre delivering a key two-run single in the sixth inning, as the Hawks forged a split in their NWAACC doubleheader in Pasco.

CBC (3-3) dropped the first game 7-4 as the Titans (2-2) rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth. It was the third split in as many doubleheaders for the Hawks to open the season.

“I was proud of the way our guys battled at the plate all day and the way they worked to get a split after losing a tough first game,” said CBC coach Chris Staton.

Pocasangre (Kennewick) went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs, getting the big hit in CBC’s three-run sixth inning to take a four-run lead.

Johnson (Richland) was 4-for-5 and scored twice, while Bettinson (Southridge) was 3-for-4 and scored once.

“Pocasangre had a huge game for us. He got it done when we needed it,” said Staton, adding that starting pitcher Thomas Bevington put up five strong innings of two-hit ball.

The Hawks were headed for a win in the opener as well before the Titans found their long game in the ninth. Garrett DeGallier and Joe Geaney each hit two-run homers in the frame that was aided by a pair of walks.

“In the end, we just had too many walks, and their hitters did a great job of getting big hits when they needed it,” Staton said.

CBC broke a 2-all tie in the seventh, with a walk and a botched sacrifice bunt putting two on with no out. Axel Johnson then doubled ina run and Jordan Webb’s ground out to short scored a second for a 4-2 edge.

Brandon Call started for the Hawks and threw 41⁄3 innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out two.

Tacoma 020 000 005 — 7 9 2
Columbia Basin 010 010 200 — 4 9 0
Mitch McQueen, Quinn Eldridge (7) (W,1-0), Brandon Choate (9) (S,1) and Chad Michaud; Brandon Call, Nathan Clark (5), Nate Sorensen (L,0-1) and Braden Wolgamott. Highlights—Garrett DeGallier (TCC) HR, 2 RBI; Joe Geaney (TCC) HR, 2 RBI; Evan Peterson (TCC) 2B, SB; Chad Michaud (TCC) 2x3; Zach Rapacz (CBC) 2B, 2R; Seth Lochridge (CBC) 2x3, 2B, RBI, 2R; Axel Johnson (CBC) 2B, RBI; Ryan Atkinson (CBC) 2x5.
Tacoma 000 010 120 — 4 6 1
Columbia Basin 100 013 00x — 5 13 1
Patrick Bernard (L,0-1), Ryota Kowai (6) and Jake Ross; Thomas Bevington (W,1-1), Steven Danek (6), Ethan Cantu (8) (S,1) and Joe Roletto. Highlights—Ross (TCC) 2B; Dalton Johnson (CBC) 4x5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, SB; Brandon Pocasangre (CBC) 3x5, 3 RBI; Chad Bettinson (CBC) 3x4.

Walla Walla 1-19, Olympic 0-3: Jesse Houser and Stetson Plew combined on a three-hit shutout in the opener, and Tony Salas homered and drove in six runs in the blowout finale of the Warriors’ pre-region sweep at home. Houser, who led Kamiakin to the state championship last spring, threw seven innings of two-hit ball, striking out five and walking four before Plew (Kennewick) closed it out. Salas unloaded the bases with a double in the fourth inning and smacked a two-run blast in the sixth. Walla Walla scored 14 runs in their final three turns at the plate. Cody Poznanski (Richland) drove in three runs, including a clutch two-out, two-run single in the second for a 2-1 lead for the Warriors.
Olympic 000 000 000 — 0 3 2
Walla Walla 010 000 00x — 1 8 0
Ryan Taylor (L,1-1), Taylor Parks (8) and Dustin Dhanani; Jesse Houser (W,2-0), Stetson Plew (8) and Jarrod Turner. Highlights—Chris Weik (OCC) 2B; Jace Feldmeier (OCC) 2B; Houser (WW) 7IP-2H-0R-4BB-5K; Plew (WW) 2IP-1H-2K; Corey Morris (WW) 2x4, 2B; Seth Wolfe (WW) 2x2.
Olympic 100 001 100 — 3 9 2
Walla Walla 020 304 37x — 19 14 0
Robbie Campos (L,0-1), Austin Cook (4), Takashi Yamada (4), Shota Kano (6), Joe Valley (7), Jacob Thompson (8) and Mac Lockett, Drew Madsen; Nick Bettinson (W,1-1), Bear Braich (6), Brandon Costello (8) and Conner Holbrook. Highlights—Brady Page (OCC) 2B; Feldmeier (2B); Cody Poznanski (WW) 3 RBI, 2R, 3 BB; Morris (WW) 3B, 2R, RBI; Tony Salas (WW) 2x3, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 3R; Jarod Gonzales (WW) 2x3, 3R; Ryan Neal (WW) 2x3, HR, 2 RBI, 2R; Ryan Rambur (WW) 2x5, 4R; Holbrook (WW) 2x4, 2B.