ROSEBURG – A four-run sixth inning rally by the Pepsi Bottlecaps led to a comeback 5-4 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader and a sweep against the cross-town rival Umpqua Lions on Monday.
Pepsi trailed the Lions 4-1 entering the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff single by Pepsi’s Luke Lucido, Umpqua managed to get two outs, but a pair of Lions’ errors helped extend the inning. Pepsi drew within a run when Brendan Ibarra hit a two-run single to drive in the go-ahead runs for the Bottlecaps.
Ibarra finished the second game with two of Pepsi’s five hits. He also added two RBI and a run scored.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Bottlecaps edged the Lions 2-1 behind a strong pitching performance from Zach Mandera. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit through the first three innings and faced one batter over the minimum.
Umpqua scored its only run in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to one-run. The Lions managed to get the game-tying run in scoring position in the every inning to follow, but each time left the runner stranded.
Pepsi moves to 3-3 on the season and 2-0 in league play. Umpqua fell to 0-3 on the year. The Bottlecaps are back to action Thursday with a doubleheader on the road against North Medford. The Lions host Eagle Point for a doubleheader on Wednesday.
DOC STEWART’S HIT THE ROAD
The Doc Stewart’s are headed to Klamath Falls on Tuesday in search of their first league win. The Doc’s suffered two losses against Eugene in their league openers on Thursday last week. Since then the Doc’s have split two games against the Fairfield Expos, a traveling team from California.
The Falcons are 1-1 in league games and 4-5 overall. This is the first year back in American Legion baseball for the Falcons, after the organization moved to Babe Ruth baseball.
The games will be played at historic Kiger Stadium in Klamath Falls. Game one is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. Broadcast coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on 1490 The Score and streaming with video online at 541radio.com on the Doc Stewart’s Homepage.
