SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  – Bushnell University made it close late, but fell in a non-conference game to Western Oregon University on Tuesday, 6-5 at the Hamlin Sports Complex.
 
The Wolves (25-15) cracked open the scoring in the top of the third inning with two runs, and never relinquished the lead. They tacked on three runs in the top of the fourth to go up 5-0, but the Beacons refused to go quietly.
 
Jameson Hussey led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk, Jacob Richardson was hit by a pitch and Jordan Wilson put down a bunt single, loading the bases with no outs. Jaxson Fraser helped the team avoid the shutout with an RBI walk, which was followed by back-to-back sacrifice flies from Reece Carganilla (pictured) and Noah Montoya, bringing the Beacons back to within 5-3.
 
Western Oregon scored again in the top of the sixth, adding an unearned run on an RBI groundout.
 
Fraser did some more damage in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Beacons climbed to within one run on his two-RBI double.
 
Eight different pitchers saw action for the Beacons, who had a host of impressive innings. Jayden Soriano, Ethan Paulson and David Schwartz each had 1-2-3 innings while Abbott Haffar didn't allow a hit and got three ground outs in his inning. A fielding error at short to the lead-off batter, leading to the unearned run in the sixth, was his only blemish.
 
Brendan Frazier was strong as well, retiring all six batters he faced over the final two innings.
 
Colby Knutzen (1-2) took the loss for the Beacons, giving up on earned run on three hits in the third.
 
Frasier went 2-for-3 on the day with three RBI while Wilson went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs.
 
Bushnell (11-34) will have the weekend off, with a timely bye in the Cascade Collegiate Conference schedule. Next up will be another non-conference match-up next Tuesday, playing host to Linfield College at 4:00 pm. That will be the final home game of the inaugural season for the relaunched Beacon program.