LA GRANDE, Ore. – After sweeping a double-header on Saturday, the Beacon baseball team wasn't able to put together the same on Sunday, falling twice to Eastern Oregon University. The second game featured 29 combined runs on 31 hits, and saw the teams change leads four times.
Bushnell moves to 8-22 overall and 6-2 in Cascade Conference play after the first two weeks of the circuit schedule. EOU moves to 9-24 overall and 2-6 in conference.
GAME ONE: Eastern Oregon 8, Bushnell 2
EOU claimed the opening session with an 8-2 victory, out-hitting the Beacons 10-5.
Kai Keamo (1-3) got the start for Bushnell and went four innings, allowing three earned runs.
Jacob Stoner went 2-for-4 for the visitors with a pair of doubles and an RBI.
GAME TWO: Eastern Oregon 16, Bushnell 13
A dizzying nightcap wasn't one for the faint of heart as the teams traded blows all afternoon in a three-hour and 42 minute slugfest.
An early 3-0 EOU lead was wiped out by seven Bushnell runs, including a
Jeff Fripp grand slam in the fourth inning, his seventh home run of the season.
Eastern came right back with six runs to take a 9-7 lead, only to see the Beacons push four more across in the top of the seventh inning. EOU added four of their own in the bottom of the frame and were ahead 13-11 heading into the eighth.
Bushnell once again rallied, tying the game on a two-RBI single from
Dylan Carson. The Mounties added one final attack in the bottom of the eighth, leading off with a solo home run and punching through two more on a double for the final margin.
After a strong start from Jahshua Jacapin, giving up two earned runs in five innings, the Bushnell bullpen couldn't keep EOU off the basepaths from there.
Daniel Furman (0-2) ended up taking the loss, giving up the final three runs on three hits in the eighth.
Bushnell collected 15 hits in the contest, including a 4-for-6 effort from
Brandon Reed. Fripp (pictured) ended the game with two hits and five RBI while Stoner and
Jordan Wilson also had a pair of hits.
"It was a tough day today," said head coach
Tommy Richards. "I thought we showed some resolve to stay in the fight in game two, but we have a lot to clean up. Excited to get back to work on Monday."
Jamison Hussey added, "It felt like we were down a lot in game two, but like we were never out of it. We were in it the whole game until the final out."
Bushnell returns home next weekend for another strong CCC challenge as they take on The College of Idaho. The Yotes are 16-17 on the season and tied for second place with the Beacons. The teams play a pair of double-headers, beginning Friday, April 1 at 2:00 pm.
