Tacoma Downs Bellevue 3-1 Behind Higginbottom’s Gem in Game 2 of NWAC Baseball Championship

LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Tacoma Titans continued with the theme of strong pitching as they defeated the Bellevue Bulldogs 3-1 in game two of the 2024 NWAC Baseball Championship on Thursday afternoon at Lower Columbia College's David Story Field.

The West regions No. 1 seeded Titans (35-8-1) got a strong eight inning start from sophomore Elijah Higginbottom, who limited the Bulldogs to one run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Higginbottom turned the ball over to closer Marcel Mercado, who pitched a scoreless frame with a punchout to earn the save.

Tacoma got on the board early in the second inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Kaleb McNeely and Chase Cretti. That was all Higginbottom would need to secure the first-round victory for the Titans. TCC later scored an insurance run in the seventh inning on a Bellevue error.

The Bulldogs (25-25-1) got on the board against Higginbottom in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Bryan Sfanos. Bellevue was limited to four hits overall on the game with no extra-base hits.

Tristan Aasland made the start for Bellevue, allowing two earned runs over 4.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts. Chase Archibald was effective in relief, allowing one unearned run in 3.1 innings.

Tacoma advances in the winner's bracket and will play Edmonds on Friday at 4:35 p.m. in game seven. Bellevue drops to the loser's bracket and will play Spokane on Friday at 9:35 a.m. in game five.

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