EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell baseball team started off Cascade Collegiate Conference play on a strong note on Friday, sweeping a double-header from Oregon Tech, 8-7 and 5-3.
 
The clash between two CCC playoff teams from 2024 included a third-straight walk-off win for the Beacons, as Bushnell (9-1, 2-0 CCC) extended the best start in school history with their seventh and eighth consecutive victories.
 
Oregon Tech (7-4, 0-2) ended a four-game winning streak of their own.
 
"The boys were gritty today," said Head Coach Jamie Womack. "We were never out of the fight and had ultimate faith in whoever's turn it was. I am really proud of our coaches and our players in getting conference play started on the right foot. The job is far from done and there is important work to do tomorrow. We have a ton of respect for Oregon Tech. They are coached well and play good baseball, so it will take all of our focus and effort to end the weekend on a positive note."
 
GAME ONE: BUSHNELL 8, OREGON TECH 7
 
A back-and-fourth battle in the opener ended with the Beacons claiming yet another walk-off win. Trailing 7-5 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Beacons scored three runs on just one hit to claim the win.
 
After a double from Will Hudler put runners on second and third with no outs, Kai Keamo came home to score from third on a strikeout, as the pitch was mishandled by the Owl catcher.
 
Bushnell soon tied the game on an RBI fielder's choice by Reece Carganilla, who went on to advance to second base on another miscue, giving the Beacons runners at second and third again. OIT made the decision to intentionally walk power-hitting senior Cade Crist to load the bases, a move the may have instantly regretted as Max Richards came up to bat to claim the game-winning walk.
 
It may have been small-ball that ended the game, but it was the long ball that got Bushnell there as Hudler, Jordan Wilson, and Dylan Carson all hit home runs earlier in the contest.

Hudler's was a two-run blast in the bottom of the second inning to give Bushnell a 2-1 lead. Trailing 6-2, Wilson made it a 6-4 game with his sixth-inning shot, and Carson made it 6-5 in the seventh.
 
Hudler finished the game hitting 3-for-4 and courtesy runner Davis Grawey scored two runs, including the game winner.
 
Bushnell finished the game with a 9-7 advantage in hits.
 
After four innings of work for both Austin Wolfe and Loreto Siniscalchi, Elijah Breault (1-0) got the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
 
For Oregon Tech, Kaden Melzer (0-1) took the loss in relief, giving up four runs on two hits over 2.1 innings of work. The Owls wasted a strong starting effort from Tim Williams, who struck out seven over six innings of work.
 
GAME TWO: BUSHNELL 5, OREGON TECH 3
 
Another close contest in the night cap, Bushnell and Oregon Tech were tied at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 before the Beacons pulled away with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the victory.
 
Three pitchers combined on a five-hitter for the home team, led by a strong five-inning start from Braden Proud, giving up one run on two hits over five innings.
 
After a 2-1 Bushnell lead turned into a 3-2 deficit in the top of the sixth, Garrett Vohs (2-0) was called upon squash the rally, doing so with 3.2 innings of scoreless pitching, striking out four batters and giving up just two singles for his second win of the season.
 
Wilson picked up his second home run of the day, and 28th of his career, in the bottom of the fourth as Bushnell took the 2-1 lead. Chase Nye was able to tie up the game in the sixth with an RBI single, his second hit of the game, and the Beacons put the game away with back-to-back RBI doubles from CJ Smith and Jacob Richardson in the seventh.
 
Brian McClelland (0-1) took the loss for the Owls as he wasn't able to retire a batter in relief in the seventh, giving up three hits. Landon Cheney had started in things off well for OIT with a six-inning start, striking out five batters.
 
UP NEXT: Bushnell and Oregon Tech will close out the three-game CCC series on Saturday at 11:00 am.