On the road in Durham last Friday, the RedHawks got all they could handle in a twin bill with the Trojans, but twice came away victorious thanks to strong pitching and quality at bats.
In the early game Colusa found itself down 3-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning, but three free passes issued by Trojan pitching opened the door for some late inning heroics as Nick Price, Ethan Lay and Drew Bradbury each singled to plate runs and give the RedHawks their first lead of the game at 6-3.
Colusa added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh then minimized the Trojans attempt to rally in the home half of the frame to ultimately come away with an 8-4 win.
Bradbury went the distance on the hill in his usual workmanlike approach, overcoming five fielding errors by the RedHawks.
Price picked up two hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead Colusa at the plate.
Facing Durhams hard throwing pitcher Jace Buck in the second game, the Trojans had blanked the RedHawks for six innings with Buck yielding just two hits and fanning 10 to maintain the 1-0 advantage his team had gained as the result of two RedHawk errors.
However an unfortunate break would alter the direction of the game in the top of the seventh when after throwing his 83rd pitch, Buck crumpled to the ground suffering what appeared to be a severe arm injury and left the field.
While Durham was able to close out the sixth inning without incurring any damage, the seventh was where Colusa surged ahead courtesy of five walks issued by the Trojans and a pop up by Bradbury to the right side that allowed the speedy Price to score from third.
Justin Lee who finished 2 for 3 with a double and Luke Kalfsbeek, who also doubled accounted for the RedHawks only hits in the game.
Yet once again it was the pitching that proved to be the difference as starter Emanuel Frias turned in three and a third solid innings of work before giving way to Lay who preserved the 3-1win recording four strike outs in three clean innings in relief.
With just one loss against 22 wins, Colusa is next scheduled to face East Nicolaus in a double header at home on May 25.
