Vikings Shut Down on Road, Drop Pair to Treasure Valley as Playoff Hopes Fade

Hoping to salvage a series against Treasure Valley Community College, the Big Bend Vikings made the six-hour trip to Ontario, Oregon, battling more than just their opponent. A season plagued by injuries has left BBCC short-handed, with several key arms sidelined and multiple position players dealing with nagging issues.

With Josh Stirm recently going down due to an elbow injury, Owen Relkoff was called upon to make his first start of the season in Game 1—and he delivered. Relkoff was outstanding on the mound, tossing seven innings of one-run baseball while allowing minimal traffic. He struck out four and walked just one, keeping Treasure Valley off balance all game long.

Despite the strong pitching performance and solid defense behind him, the Vikings' offense couldn't find its rhythm. Managing just four hits, BBCC struggled to generate any scoring opportunities and ultimately fell in a tight 1–0 loss.

Looking to bounce back in Game 2, the Vikings instead found themselves facing a familiar issue. Offensive production remained elusive, as BBCC managed just one run on three hits. Defensive miscues compounded the problem, with four errors opening the door for Treasure Valley to pull away. The Vikings fell 10–1, dropping both games of the series.

As the regular season winds down, BBCC's playoff hopes continue to slip. The Vikings will look to regroup quickly as they hit the road again to face Walla Walla on Wednesday before returning home to host on Saturday in what could be a pivotal stretch to close out the season.