EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell baseball team earned a pair of statement wins on Friday afternoon, sweeping a double-header from Willamette Valley rival Corban University, 7-1 and 5-3.
 
With the weekend series originally scheduled to be played in Salem, but moved to Eugene due to facility conflicts, the Beacons competed as the road team, batting first on Friday, the change did nothing to effect the Bushnell pitching staff as four pitchers combined to strike out 12 batters and allow just ten hits in a solid set of outings.  
 
GAME ONE: Bushnell 7, Corban 1
 
It was the Warriors who would get on the board first in the opener, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. That would be the only blemish for Senior starter Kai Keamo (3-3) who went six innings, striking out four batters and allowing just three hits.
 
The Bushnell offense took a while to get going as Corban starter Jack Kovanen went five scoreless innings. In the top of the seventh, however, Caleb Richter (pictured) would put the Beacons ahead for good with a two-run homer to dead centerfield.
 
Bushnell went on to add two more in the eighth on a two-run double by Jaden Thomson, and scored another trio of insurance runs in the ninth when Nate Stevens hit a two-run single and Aiden Takuma scored on an error.
 
Jacob Courtney had another solid game for the Beacons out of the bullpen, striking out four batters and throwing to just one over the minimum in three scoreless innings to record his second save of the season.
 
Danny Womack finished the game hitting 3-for-4 with three singles to lead the Beacons.  
 
GAME TWO: Bushnell 5, Corban 3
 
The Beacons picked up another solid starting effort on the mound in the night cap as freshman Griffin Sanchez (1-2) pitched into the eighth inning, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out three.  
 
Dylan Carson broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning, putting the Beacons ahead 1-0 with a solo home run, his CCC-leading 11th of the season.
 
Bushnell added two more runs in the sixth as Nate Stevens hit an RBI double to left center and then scored on a single by Albert Jennings.
 
Corban got on the board with a run in the seventh, making it 3-1 before Jennings secured two much needed insurance runs in the top of the eighth on a two-RBI single.
 
Sanchez came out to start the eight inning, but got into a little trouble before welcoming Chase Marshall on in relief with two on and nobody out. The Warriors would end up scoring twice on a ground out and a wild pitch, but Marshall got out of the jam before securing his first save of the season with two hitless innings of work.
 
Jennings finished the game hitting 2-for-4 with his three RBI to lead the offense.
 
UP NEXT: The Beacons (17-15, 9-10 CCC) will close out the weekend series with two more games on Saturday with Corban University (11-21, 7-13), beginning at 11:00 am.