SALEM & SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — 2023 Sandpoint High graduate Austin Dillon, a rising redshirt sophomore at Yakima Valley College, lowered his season earned run average to 5.14 with two solid appearances against the West Coast League's Marion Berries and Ridgefield Raptors recently.

The 6-foot 4-inch right-handed pitcher, who competes for the Springfield Drifters, tossed three one-hit innings, allowing just one walk while striking out three batters in a 6-5 loss to the Berries on June 29 at Chemeketa Baseball Field in Salem. Dillon threw 23 of his 31 pitches for strikes in the contest and retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh frames.

Thursday, during an 11-9 home win over the Raptors at the Hamlin Sports Complex in Springfield, Dillon continued to pound the zone. The former two-time All-Inland Empire League selection fired in four innings, allowing just three hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out two batters. He held the Raptors to a .215 batting average and threw 38 of his 59 pitches for strikes, 18 of which were swings and misses, in what was his second start of the summer season.

On the season, Dillon, in 10 appearances, has now struck out 19 batters across 21 innings of work. He's allowed just five hits and two earned runs over his last 10 innings on the mound.

The Drifters, which are 12-18, started off a six-game homestand Tuesday with a matchup against the Yakima Valley Pippins. They'll face the Pippins on Wednesday and Thursday before welcoming the Marion Berries for three games from Friday to Sunday.