SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Bushnell University baseball team finished off an impressive weekend at home, sweeping Saturday's doubleheader to win the series over No. 3 Lewis-Clark State College.  
 
After a 12-5 loss in the series opener, Bushnell (12-9) won three straight over third-ranked Lewis-Clark State (10-6). The Beacons capitalized in the sixth inning in both games on Saturday, winning 7-5 and 3-2.
 
Reece Carganilla, who hit a two-out, two-run single to take the lead in the finale, said, "It was a great day for the Beacs. All sides of the ball played well today and that just goes to show what kind of team we are. The job is not done yet, but we will enjoy this one for sure."
 
Austin Wolfe, who held onto a one-run lead in his three innings of relief in game four, said, "It was great to be put in that spot with the series on the line. The guys brought the energy and confidence to the field today and I credit our success to that. We showed this weekend that we mean business and I'm hyped to see what we do with conference coming up."
 
Game 1: Bushnell 7, LC State 5
 
Kai Keamo pitched a five-inning scoreless outing in the opener, giving up just two hits with six strikeouts.
 
Bushnell struck first in the bottom of the second. Caleb Richter led off the frame with a double to right center, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Liam Kerr, and scored on an RBI-groundout off the bat of Carganilla. Albert Jennings followed with a two-out single through the right side to make it a 2-0 lead.  
 
The Beacons ran into some trouble in the sixth as the Warriors put up four runs, including a two-run homer over the right field fence by Pu'ukani De Sa.
 
Bushnell took little time to respond, putting up a four-spot of their own in the bottom half to take a 6-4 lead. Cade Crist walked to lead off the inning, scoring following another Richter double and a miscue in right field. Richter also scored on an error to tie the game before Isaiah Hart brought in the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice, scoring Kerr. Jordan Wilson hit an RBI-single through the right side to finish off the frame.
 
Both sides added a run in the eighth. The Warriors scored on a passed ball before the Beacons extended their lead back to two on an RBI-triple by Wilson, his third hit of the game.  
 
Colby Knutzen forced a groundout and a pair of flyouts in the top of the ninth to record his third save of the season. Knutzen threw the final three innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits.
 
LC State was led by two hits apiece from Carter Booth, De Sa, and Jack Sheward.  
 
Game 2: Bushnell 3, LC State 2
 
Carganilla provided the go-ahead run in the series finale with a two-run single.
 
The Beacons trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, starting off the frame on the wrong foot with two quick outs. Crist then drew a walk, Richter singled and Nate Stevens walked to load the bases. Jameson Hussey was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run before Carganilla's single up the middle plated the next two.
 
Austin Wolfe relieved Alec Gums (3 IP) in the seventh, holding the Warriors scoreless the rest of the way to help clinch the series. The freshman gave up just one hit in three innings of work for the save. Taiga Yamane, Gums and Wolfe held LC to five hits on the game.
 
Both Warrior runs were off the bat of Jake Gish, who went 2-for-4 at the plate.
 
Up Next: Bushnell opens Cascade Collegiate Conference play next weekend, traveling to La Grande to take on Eastern Oregon (March 16-17).