ROSEBURG – The Roseburg Pepsi Bottlecaps took a three-game lead for first place in the Area 4 North standings over the Umpqua Lions with a doubleheader sweep of their local rivals Friday night.
Pepsi scored twice in the first inning of game one and led the entire way for a 9-4 victory in the opener. The Bottlecaps again took an early lead in game two and never relinquished the edge, winning 7-2.
Doran Gillespie scattered seven hits over five innings in game one and picked up the victory for Pepsi. He struck out six Umpqua batters. Brody Black led the Roseburg offense with two hits and three RBI.
Austin Luzier led the Lions in game one, going 2-for-2 with a double.
Gillespie and Jett Black each had home runs for Pepsi in the game two victory. Black got the scoring started with a solo-shot in the second inning.
Umpqua tied the game at 2-2 on an error in the top of the fifth inning, but Roseburg quickly retook the lead in the home half of the inning. Gillespie put the contest out of reach with a two-run homer that capped off a three-run sixth inning.
Pepsi now has a three-game lead over Umpqua for the Area 4 North championship. Up next, the Lions travel to Grants Pass to play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 6 p.m. and the Bottlecaps play a home doubleheader against South Coos on Monday.
GAME ONE
Umpqua 010;120;0 — 4;8;2
Pepsi 220;302;X – 9;9;4
Meisner, Onate (4) and Kangiser; Gillespie, Stoffal (6) and Six. WP — Gillespie. LP — Meisner.
2B — Luzier (U), B. Black (P).
GAME TWO
Umpqua 000;020;0 — 2;2;0
Pepsi 011;023;X — 7;10;4
Burke, Hagar (5), Luzier (6) and Kangiser; J. Black, Stoffal (6), and Six. WP — J. Black. LP — Burke.
HR — J. Black (P), Gillespie (P). 3B — Six (P). 2B — Luzier (U), Gillespie (P), Stone (P).