The Ducks Sore Over the Leopards as Oregon Takes Down Lafayette in Both Games of the Doubleheader.

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Written Story By Wilder Lewis

The Ducks opened up their home season with a 4 game series vs Lafayette this weekend at PK Park. After the Ducks had everyone in the lineup record a hit last night they were able to claim the first game for 4 by a score of 17-3. Both teams met back up today in sunny Eugene for a double header in which Oregon were able to control a good portion of.

In the first game of the day the Ducks came out flying as leadoff batter Justin Cassella drove a big shot out for a lead off HR. The offense didn’t slow there however as Oregon had two 6 run innings in the 3rd and 5th. The latter of which was capped off by Cassella’s second HR of the night this time being a 3 run shot giving him 5 total RBI’s on the night. Offense wasn’t the only factor for the Ducks in this one though as sophomore pitcher Grayson Grinsell was on the mound for Oregon and he had himself a new career day. Grinsell recorded 10 strikeouts in only 4 innings pitched while only letting up one hit before being taken out in the 5th. This equaled his career high in innings pitched and became a new career high in strikeouts as previously the most he achieved was 7.

Lafayette was able to make it a little bit closer towards the end of the game racking up 2 runs in the 6th thanks to a big HR from Petrone and then another late consultation run right at the end with bases loaded in the 9th. Relief pitchers Featherston and Goodson however were able to limit the Leopards to just that as they both came up clutch when it mattered to finish off the first game. In the second game of the doubleheader Oregon were able to shut down the Leopards early as freshmen pitcher Toby Twist started on the mound for the Ducks. Twist got through 4 scoreless innings, setting a new career high for innings pitched, before being taken out for senior Michael Freund who ended with the win after pitching just over 2 innings.

As far as offense is concerned for the Ducks in game 2 it was a bit of a slower outing only scoring 7 runs on the whole game. Jeffery Heard was the big hitter for Oregon in the second stretch as he was able to get 3 hits in 4 at bats and notched his first HR in a duck jersey. Heard finished with 3 RBI’s on the day only trailing the prior mentioned Cassella and Jacob Walsh who both finished with 5. The Leopards were able to make it a close one late for the Ducks as in the top of the ninth Oregon found themselves on defense with bases loaded and no outs. Luckily veteran pitcher Logan Mercado was able to ease his nerves and throw back to back massive strikeouts to end the game for the Ducks.

Oregon will be back at PK Park tomorrow afternoon at 4pm to finish off the last game in the series vs Lafayette. The Ducks will also be trying to add to their growing win streak which sits at 3 going into tomorrow’s game. KWVA will be at the game giving you live tweets and updates during the game so stay tuned. Until then I will say Sayonara.

Audio Story By Max Ragel

BUSHNELL BSB STORY: Beacons Winless in Doubleheader vs. Thunderbirds

By Ryan Oppenheimer

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — Bushnell Baseball lost games 3 and 4 of their home-opening series against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Saturday, falling 9-2 in the first game of the day and 6-5 in the next. UBC won the series three games to one.

The Beacons got solid starts from both of their starters. Nate Rasmussen went five innings deep in game 3, giving up two hits and no walks while recording two strikeouts and allowing one run on a second inning balk. Meanwhile, Jordan Wilson got the scoring started for the Beacons with a solo shot to the scoreboard in the fourth inning.

But things fell apart when the Beacons went to their bullpen. Alec Gums relieved Rasmussen to start the sixth but didn’t get out of the frame, allowing a walk, a double and a Trent Lenihan two-RBI single before exiting and recording his second loss of the season.

Cade Crist scored on a Brendan Frazier sac fly to cut the deficit to one run in the seventh, but the Beacs’ bullpen again foiled the comeback attempt. Daniel Furman and Marques Brown gave up three runs each, and Kaden Zarowny’s eighth-inning three-run bomb off Brown to go up 9-2 was the nail in the coffin.

Thunderbirds starter Ryan Beitel was credited with the win, with 1 R, 7 K , 4 H and 2 BB in 6.0 IP. Vicarte Domingo pitched the rest of the game and earned himself a three-inning save while recording 4 K, 1 BB and 3 H.

The second game of the day — and game 4 of the series — began promisingly for Bushnell. Kai Keamo drew the start and made a dominant first appearance of the season. After striking out five in three innings that would have been perfect if not for a Brandon Reed passed ball, he was removed from the game to manage his workload.

Ethan Stacy drove home Noah Montoya on an RBI single in the second inning. Jordan Wilson should’ve extended the lead with a bases-loaded fly ball that bounced off a UBC glove and into foul territory, but the umpires controversially ruled it foul, negating the runs scored. Wilson then struck out swinging to end the inning.

Taiga Yamane relieved Keamo and gave up an unearned run on an error in the fifth, but Cade Crist immediately retook the lead for Bushnell on a solo homer in the bottom half. Albert Jennings drove home another run with a single later that inning to go up 3-1, ending UBC starter Daniel Orfaly’s day.

UBC’s Aaron Marsh scored on a HBP by Jayden Soriano after Yamane loaded the bases. Later, Garrett Vohs gave up three runs and the lead in a wild seventh inning that included two wild pitches, three singles, a walk, a sac bunt and a sac fly.

Isaiah Hart’s two-run double in the bottom of the seventh tied it up at 5. In the top of the eighth inning, Thunderbirds C Kyle Yip hit what would be the game-winning solo homer off of Colby Knutzen.

Knutzen remained the game and did not allow another run, but the Beacons offense couldn’t get the tying run across in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Max Richards grounded to short for the final out. Will Anderson closed out the game for UBC and was credited with the win, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with 4 K.

The Thunderbirds have likely played themselves in to the top 25, as they were already receiving votes last poll. With the 3-1 series win, they improve to 11-4 while Bushnell falls to 6-7. The Beacons now shift focus to a road series at the College of Idaho starting Saturday, March 2.