SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The preseason was left firmly in the rear-view mirror on Friday as the Bushnell baseball team opened up their first foray into the Cascade Collegiate Conference with a double-header sweep, taking down rival Corban University 15-5 and 10-7.
 
The victories doubled the win total for the Beacons on the season (4-19, 2-0 CCC), gave them back-to-back wins for the first time and Bushnell improved to 3-2 against the Warriors (12-11-1, 0-2).
 
Head Coach Tommy Richard said, "I was proud of our team today. I thought we competed really well. There was a good energy and seriousness about our business that hopefully we can repeat and make a part of our daily experience. We did well on all sides of the ball. The pitchers did a great job, the hitters competed and defensively we made plays when we needed to."
 
GAME ONE: Bushnell 15, Corban 5 (7 Innings)
 
The first-ever Cascade Collegiate Conference game for the Beacons couldn't have been drawn up any better as they claimed a run-rule victory over the Warriors with their highest scoring output of the season.
 
Bushnell led 5-2 after four innings only to see Corban claw their way back to a 5-5 ballgame in the top of the sixth.
 
The Beacons quickly responded in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs to put the game out of reach. Peyton Hino got the ball rolling with a two-run single and later scored on an RBI double from Jacob Stoner. Daniel Furman also had a two-run double in his second at-bat of the inning.
 
Bushnell made it a ten-run lead in the bottom of the seventh to close the door, with Jaxson Fraser punching an RBI single through the left side of the infield for the winning run.  
 
The 15 hits for the Beacons were the most since opening day and included just three extra-base hits. Jeff Fripp went 3-for-5 for the home team while Furman, Hino, Stoner, Fraser, and Noah Montoya each had a pair of hits.
 
Trenton Hough got things started on the mound with three strong innings, striking out two and allowing one run. Colby Knutzen (1-0) came on in relief and also threw three innings while Gregory Joe ended the game with a strong seventh-inning.
 
GAME TWO: Bushnell 10, Corban 7
 
The bats continued to click in game two, but it was pitching that stood out for the Beacons as Adam Sabatino and Jayden Soriano combined to strike out 13 batters.
 
Sabatino (1-3) picked up the first win of his career, striking out nine batters in six innings while giving up five hits. All three of his runs were surrendered in the first two innings and he struck out the side in the fourth. "I struggled in those first two innings today," said Sabatino, "but the offense really picked me up and helped me find my footing. From there I was able to lock it in and give the team some zeroes on the board. It feels great to start conference play 2-0 but we are just getting started.
 
Montoya stayed hot, going 3-for-5 to complete a five-hit day, while Brandon Reed made an impact with four RBI, including two on a second-inning home run.
 
Fripp added two more hits to also collect five on the day while Reece Carganilla went 2-for-5. Hino and Stoner added two stolen bases each for the Beacons.
 
The teams are scheduled to complete the four-game weekend series on Saturday, Mother Nature permitting. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for 11:00 am.