SALEM – The Roseburg Doc Stewart’s baseball team held a lead against the Salem Withnell Dodgers for more than half of a nine-inning contest on Monday, but the Dodgers rallied in the seventh and eighth innings for a 10-5 non-league win at Spec Keene Stadium on the campus of Willamette University.

The Doc’s took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a bloop single by Treven Jacks and extended the lead to 3-0 with a run on a Shawn Rigsby double in the top of the second inning. Salem scored twice in the bottom of the second on two bases loaded walks by Doc’s starter Wryland McKnight, but the Doc’s made the score 4-2 on a single by Dustin Eakin in the third inning.

The score remained 4-2 until the fifth when Salem tied the game thanks to a solo home run by Andy Bevens and a two-out double by Nick Orlandini. Both sides scored in the sixth inning to keep the game even.

The Dodgers finally gained the advantage on the Doc’s with a three-run seventh inning. The Doc’s sent reliever Braxton Beerbohm to the mound, but he surrendered three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. Two wild pitches in the inning allowed the Dodgers to gain the edge and a two-out single by Nate Cantonwine put Salem up 8-5.

The score was stretched to a five run lead with two more runs in the eighth inning on another hit by Orlandini and a passed ball. The Doc’s were unable to cut into the deficit against Salem reliever Justin Culpepper, who allowed just one hit over the final three innings.

The Doc’s recorded 11 hits in the loss, led by Zack Watkins, who finished with three singles and a run scored. Dustin Eakin played a vital role in keeping the game close. Eakin went 2-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and made two run saving plays in his first start in right field. Eakin went all out in a head-first diving catch during the fifth inning that likely took away at least one run for Salem and later threw out a runner at home to end the seventh inning.

The Doc Stewart’s now turn their attention to the final games of the regular season. The team’s post season fate is hanging in the balance as they travel to Springfield to face the Willamette Valley Titans. The Doc’s must win both games of the doubleheader in order to have a chance at finishing in the top four of the Area 4 standings.

The Doc’s will also need the Grants Pass Nuggets to lose both games of their doubleheader against Medford on Wednesday. Medford has clinched a post season berth, but is trying to secure a second place finish after Eugene clinched the league crown on Monday. The Challengers won the league title thanks to Medford and Klamath Falls splitting a doubleheader at Kiger Stadium on Monday night.

The Willamette Valley Titans have been eliminated from post season contention with a 6-12 league record. The Titans will be looking to spoil any hopes the Doc’s have of making the post season. Game one of the twin bill begins at 5 p.m. from Hamlin Middle School in Springfield. Broadcast coverage starts at 4:45 p.m. on 1490 The Score and streaming online at 541radio.com on the Doc Stewart’s Homepage.