EUGENE, Ore. – The Beacons are 5-1 for the first time after winning a pair of one-run games on Friday against NCAA Division II Saint Martin's University, coming back for late-inning victories in both contests.
 
The Beacons had 14 hits on the afternoon, and the pitching staff combined for 18 strikeouts, but it was anything but a clean day for the home team as they made three errors in the field and had six hit batters.  
 
"Today was one of those days where you have to find a way to win without your best stuff," said head coach Jamie Womack. "We feel like we left a good bit of opportunity out there offensively, but the boys found a way. On a day where we had to spend a few hours clearing snow from the field just to get the games in, to get two wins with an opportunity to take the series on Saturday puts us in a good spot. We continue to see new contributors seize their moments in different ways and I am very proud of the group for that."
 
GAME ONE: BUSHNELL 4, SAINT MARTIN'S 3
 
In a near mirror-image pitching performance from last Friday's season-opener, Austin Wolfe set the tone, pitching into the fifth inning, Loreto Siniscalchi (2-0) came on for four innings of two-hit relief, and Tyler Biddinger threw the final inning for his second save.  
 
The Saint's got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI double, but the Beacons followed with two runs in the fourth on a Dylan Carson RBI double and a bases-loaded walk to Nate Stevens.
 
The lead changed again in the fifth as the Saints posted two runs to go ahead 3-2.
 
Bushnell responded when they needed to with a game-tying home run from Cade Crist, his second of the season, to lead off the eighth inning. Later in the eighth a familiar face gave the Beacons the win as senior Reece Carganilla punched a single to left field to bring in Ethan Stacy.
 
GAME TWO: BUSHNELL 7, SAINT MARTIN'S 6
 
The Beacons scored early and often in the night cap. An RBI hit-by-pitch to Max Richards came in the first inning before Jordan Wilson cranked his 25th career home run in the second, a three-run shot. Bushnell made it 5-0 in third inning on an RBI double from Jacob Richardson (pictured).  
 
Elijah Breault had three strikeouts over the first three innings before he gave way to the veteran Kai Keamo with one out in the fourth. Keamo had a bit of a tough outing, despite striking out three batters in 1.1 innings of work as he hit four batters and allowed four runs.
 
Just one of those was earned, however, as SMU scored three in the fifth on a bases-loaded error in right field, tying the game at 5-5.
 
Once again the Beacons responded as Crist punched a double to left field, scoring Nigel Fahland and Richardson to go ahead by two.
 
Garrett Vohs (1-0) earned the victory for the Beacons with 2.1 innings of one-hit relief, striking out four batters as part of an 11-K game for Bushnell. Alec Gums threw the ninth inning to secure the save, despite giving up an insignificant sixth run to the Saints.
 
UP NEXT: Bushnell (5-1) will try and extend their current four-game winning streak on Saturday, playing host to Saint Martin's (0-9) for two more games beginning at 11:00 am. The second game of the double-header is scheduled for seven innings.