MEDFORD – The Roseburg baseball team once again proved to be its own worst enemy as numerous errors and missed opportunities led to a 10-5 loss against North Medford on Tuesday.

The Indians committed four errors over the first two innings and the Black Tornado took advantage by scoring three times to build an early lead. Roseburg had opportunities in the first and second inning to combat North Medford’s scoring, but the Indians couldn’t bring home men in scoring position.

The Indians left Chance Beecher at second base in the first inning, after the senior led off the game with a double. Then, in the second inning, Roseburg loaded the bases with no outs, but again couldn’t connect on the hit to plate a run.

Trailing 3-0, Roseburg finally broke through with three runs in the third. Treven Jacks came through with a clutch, two-out single down the third base line that scored Roseburg’s first two runs. The Indians added another run on a wild pitch and the score was tied 3-3.

North Medford fought back and regained the edge in the home half of the third inning with five more runs off Roseburg starter Chris Stone, although only three of those runs were earned. The Indians committed another two errors, which helped extend the inning. The Black Tornado took advantage of the extra chances and smacked five hits in the inning, including back to back doubles by Larson Kindreich and Berry Hunt. By the end of the frame North Medford led 8-3.

Roseburg kept North Medford in check after the third inning. Sophomore Cody Johnson relieved Stone on the mound and struck out five of the first six batters he faced. Johnson allowed only three hits and two runs over three innings of relief work.

The Indians tried to rally against North Medford starter Greyson Wolff and reliever Honus Kindreich, but they couldn’t string together the necessary hits. Roseburg out-hit the Black Tornado 10-9, but left nine runners in scoring position.

The loss stretches Roseburg’s losing streak to four games, the longest such streak of the year for the Indians. North Medford claimed sole possession of second place in the Southwest Conference, while Roseburg fell to third place. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at Legion Field in Roseburg. Game one is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

SCORES BY INN. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 – R H E
ROSEBURG       0 0 3 0 1 0 1 – 5 10 6
N. MEDFORD    2 1 5 0 0 2 X – 10 9 2
W: Greyson Wolff
L: Chris Stone

– Joey Keeran | joey@bciradio.com | @joeykeeran