ONTARIO, Ore. - Big Bend baseball lost two hard fought games to NWAACC East leading Treasure Valley recently.

With the Vikings nursing a one-run lead for a majority of the first game, the Chukars were able to score the game-tying run in the seventh before going on to win in 10 innings, 2-1.

The Vikings (1-3, 11-5) also led in the night cap, 2-1, before another seventh inning rally allowed Treasure Valley to escape with a 4-2 win.

"We can play with anybody," head coach Pete Doumit said. "It was disappointing, I think our guys were disappointed because they knew they were basically three timely hits away from sweeping that team. I thought the teams were pretty evenly matched, I thought our pitching was very good. We didn't quite hit the ball as well as we have earlier in the season, but you've got to attribute that to good pitching too."

Mitchell Darlington drove in the lone run for Big Bend in the first game. Darlington is fourth on the team with 12 RBIs.

Timely hitting will be the key for the Vikings to compete with the top teams in the East. Big Bend stranded a combined 15 runners in two games against the Chukars.

"You just have to take advantage of the opportunities that you have," Doumit said. "Especially when you're opportunities are pretty slim."

Daniel Deaton pitched seven innings, giving up one run and striking out six batters.

Kaleb Price was tagged with the loss after relieving Deaton in the eighth inning.

In the night cap, KJ Herbert led the Viking offense with two hits and one RBI. Kyle Wagner drove in the other run for Big Bend.

Jacob Gonzales earned the loss for the Vikings after allowing three earned runs in less than an inning of work.

Big Bend will continue its murderous stretch when the team travels to face second place Walla Walla April 2.

Jordan Higley will start game one while the relatively untested Ryan Ferguson will take the hill for Big Bend in the second.

"Our pitching has to keep us in the ball games and then we're going have to start swinging the bats again like we were," Doumit said.

Softball continues to struggle

MOSES LAKE - Home field has been unkind to the Lady Vikings as the team is just 1-3 in their first four games at Big Bend.

Big Bend (0-6, 2-10) softball hosted Treasure Valley for a two-game set Sunday after scheduled games on Friday and Saturday were postponed.

Neither game made it past five innings as the Chukars prevailed 14-3 and 18-1.

Brinley Miller and Erica Chandler drove in a run each in the game one loss. Chandler also drove in the lone run for the Vikings in the night cap.