Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NOTE: Official final stats have not been provided by the host.
EUGENE, Ore –
Violet Richardson extended her Cascade Conference home run lead with two blasts as the Beacons split a double-header with Warner Pacific University on the penultimate day of the season.
Richardson hit a grand slam and a two-run shot in the game-two victory, giving her 11 on the season. No player in the CCC has more than five bombs this season, and the sophomore now ranks in the top-20 in the NAIA. She also extended her lead for extra-base hits, adding her 12th double to give her 23. Carroll's Kenna Thomas is four behind with 19 extra-base hits.
GAME ONE: Warner Pacific 3, Bushnell 2
The Beacons rallied late with two runs in the top of the seventh inning, but couldn't quite complete the comeback in a loss to the Knights. Bushnell managed just three hits in the game as WPU starter Kili Makanani (5-13) went the distance, striking out seven Beacons.
Emily Cole (6-14) had a solid came in the circle for Bushnell, striking out five batters but fiving up three runs in the third inning.
Riley Peeler,
Brenna Wilson, and
Maddy Fullenwider all posted singles for the Beacons with Fullenwider's helping Bushnell break up the shutout bid in the seventh.
GAME TWO: Bushnell 8, Warner Pacific 3
The Beacons set the tone early, taking a 4-0 lead before the Knights recorded an out. Back-to-back singles from
Taylor Kenworthy and
Emily Cole and a walk to
Riley Peeler loaded the bases for Richardson, who punished a ball into deep center field for the grand slam.
Starting pitcher
Sara Martin helped out her own cause in the third inning with a two-run homer as Bushnell took a 6-0 lead.
The Knights would answer with three runs in the bottom of the third, but that would be all of their scoring.
Richardson added a few insurance runs in the top of the fifth with a two-run blast to left field that went off of the fielders glove and over the fence for the homer.
Martin (7-8) got the complete game victory for Bushnell, striking out one batter and allowing three earned on eight hits.
Martin also hit 3-for-4 in the game as did Richardson while Kenworthy and Cole collected two hits apiece.
Up Next: The Knights (13-30, 9-17) clinched seventh-place in the CCC but Bushnell (14-29, 8-18) will have an opportunity to tie them in the final conference game of the season tomorrow morning at 11:00 am. That game will be followed by the non-conference fourth game of the series.
