By Kent Williams

Audio story

On a sunny yet frigid Friday double header for the Bushnell Beacons(5-3) baseball program, the team was able to overcome a close loss in game 1 to the Univ of British Columbia Thunderbirds(8-6) to win game 2 in run rule fashion, finishing the game in 7 innings with a score of 10 to 0. Despite UBC being a conference rival for Bushnell in the CCC, the game was not considered a conference game, and led to some confusion on whether the run rule would still apply. But it appeared both sides were ready for the game to be over and escape the cold and windy weather.

On the mound for the Beacons was lefty sophomore Alec Gums making his second start for the team. Affectionately known as Gummy, he was chewing up the Thunderbirds offense after settling himself in. In the first inning, he got himself into a bases loaded, 2-out jam but was able to escape unscathed. He would only allow 3 base runners the rest of his outing and looked extremely comfortable on the mound early in the season. Gums final line for the day was 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 strikeouts, and 3 walks.

Offensively, the Beacons were very lively and managed to score a run in each inning except the 2nd. The lineup got to UBC starter Cole Alguire early, with DH Jeff Fripp driving in a 2-RBI single through the left side, and from there it was all Bushnell. Noah Montoya would tack on another one in the 3rd with a 1-run single, Ethan Stacy in the 4th had a RBI double followed by another contribution from Fripp, who executed the first half of a perfect first and third delayed steal to allow Carganill to score the Beacons 5th run. In the 5th, Stacy struck again with a double to score an unearned run. The 6th inning saw an unusual play; with the bases loaded, there was a passed ball on a strikeout and instead of tagging the runner breaking for the plate, the UBC pitcher simply stepped on home thinking it was a force play. Then Montoya would put the nail in the coffin with a deep shot to left to score 3 more runs for his first home run of the season.

Next up for Bushnell will be another double header on Saturday against UBC again, with first pitch scheduled for 11 am.

Postgame Interview

Coach Tommy Richards