EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell baseball team bounced back from a tough extra-innings loss in game one on Saturday, taking down Corban University with a run-rule victory to earn the series win over the Warriors in a Willamette Valley Rivalry weekend.
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. That move gave Corban the opportunity for a walk-off win in the opener, before Bushnell cruised to the win in the night cap.
"We didn't have our brand of baseball and we weren't being ourselves for the first game today and it cost us," said Head Coach
Jamie Womack. "I am proud of the bounce back in game two, but need to learn from game one. Our starting pitching this weekend was amazing and I am proud of our efforts there. We need to take game two into a good week of practice."
GAME ONE: Corban 7, Bushnell 6 (10 Innings)
Bushnell took a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, only to see the Warriors rally to tie the contest before clinching the victory with an RBI single from Peyton Richard in the bottom of the tenth.
The loss dampered an otherwise strong start for reigning CCC Pitcher of the Week
Austin Wolfe, who threw seven strong innings, striking out six batters and allowing just one run on two hits.
Micah English (0-1) would take the loss.
After Corban manufactured a run in the second, Bushnell took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, scoring a run on a balk before an RBI single from
Albert Jennings (pictured). Jennings produced two more runs on a single as part of a three-run sixth inning and the Beacons went up 6-1 on an RBI double from
Jaden Thomson in the top of the seventh.
Jennings finished the game with four of Bushnell's 13 hits while every other starter had a hit in the game.
GAME TWO: Bushnell 12, Corban 2 (7 Innings)
Bushnell claimed their first run-rule victory since February 21st as they collected 15 hits and scored in five different innings to pull away early.
Jennings continued his torrent weekend with three more hits including two doubles, adding a pair of RBI as he completed a 9-for-18 weekend at the dish.
Caleb Richter and
Mana Heffernan also had three hits apiece while
Nate Stevens and former Corban player
Josh Miyazawa added two each.
DJ Kauahi (2-0) earned the victory in his first career start, going five strong innings as he struck out six batters and allowed just four singles and no earned runs.
UP NEXT: The Beacons (18-16, 10-11 CCC) will continue their current homestand next weekend, set for four games against Eastern Oregon University (8-22, 5-14). Friday's double-header is set to begin at 2:00 pm.
