SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Bushnell University baseball team split with the University of British Columbia in their home opening non-conference doubleheader, defeating the Thunderbirds 4-2 in game one before falling 7-3 in game two.
The Beacons (6-5) held the Thunderbirds (9-4), who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll, scoreless through the final seven innings of game one and the Bushnell bullpen did not give up a hit all day. UBC led early in game two, taking advantage of some Beacon miscues.
Game 1: Bushnell 4, British Columbia 2
A two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth was the difference in the opener.
Albert Jennings crushed a no-doubter over the right field fence and
Colby Knutzen retired the side in order in the ninth for the save.
Knutzen said, "It was a great first game to be back at home and find a way to win it. Sachs gave it his all for us and Ham did a great job of holding us in it to give us a chance to win at the end."
Ethan Sachs got the start for the Beacons, striking out seven over five innings. He gave up one earned run on six hits and did not walk a batter in the outing.
Trevor Hammond (3-1) claimed another victory in relief, facing the minimum in his three innings of work.
Russell Young led off the game with a home run and Kellen Bourne brought in the second for UBC with an RBI-single in the top of the second. The Thunderbirds went on to load the bases before Sachs struck out the next two batters.
A single through the right side from
Ethan Stacy got the Beacons on the board in the third and
Reece Carganilla tied the game at 2-2 with a double to left center. The Thunderbirds caught a runner stealing in both the sixth and seventh innings to eliminate Beacon baserunners.
Jordan Wilson reached first on a two-out single in the eighth and Jennings brought him home with his two-run shot.
Jennings said, "I am really proud of the whole team and how we stayed in the game until the last pitch. Sachs and Ham did a really great job of giving us the opportunity to pull ahead late."
Sean Heppner threw six strong innings for UBC, allowing two runs on four hits.
Game 2: British Columbia 7, Bushnell 3
The Beacons got into trouble early in the second game, giving up four runs in the first. The Thunderbirds added three more unearned runs in the fourth, finishing off the scoring with a two-run homer by Jackson Boomer.
The Beacons went on to shut down the Thunderbirds the rest of the way behind
Austin Wolfe,
Adam Sabatino and
Ethan Paulson. The trio did not give up a hit through the next five innings.
Max Chapman (1-2) pitched four frames in the start, allowing two earned runs on six hits.
Bushnell's runs were scored off a solo homer from Wilson and singles from Jennings and
Cade Crist. The Beacons finished with five hits, two off the bat of Jennings.
Ryan Heppner (3-0) pitched game two for the Thunderbirds, allowing one earned run on four hits through seven innings. Evan Hoegler picked up the three-inning save, his third of the year. The duo combined for 11 strikeouts, seven from Heppner.
Up Next: Bushnell and UBC wrap up the four-game non-conference series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
