AURORA, ORE. – The Roseburg Pepsi Bottlecaps went back-and-forth with North Willamette Valley in a second round game at the Single-A State Tournament Thursday, but a 4-run fifth inning led to a comeback 12-10 win for the Huskies, putting the Bottlecaps’ season in jeopardy.

The scoring came early and often. Pepsi’s Garrett Russell scored a run in the top of the first on a groundout by Brody Black.  Russell reached base with a bunt single to lead off the game. It was the first of three hits for the leadoff man.

Pepsi gave up the lead, though, when the Huskies scored four times in the home half of the first inning for a 4-1 advantage. The teams both added to the scoreboard in the second inning and the Bottlecaps scored twice in the top of the third to tie the game at 5-5. Yet, once again, the Huskies followed with a big inning, putting up three runs for a 8-5 lead through three innings.

The Bottlecaps kept the scoring in the fourth and recaptured the lead with four runs. Doran Gillespie drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Jacob Westwang drove in three runs with a bases loaded, two out double that put Pepsi in front 9-8.

The ‘Caps managed to hold the lead until the ill fated fifth inning. Grant and Griffin Henry roughed up the Pepsi pitching for three of the four runs scored by the Huskies in the decisive frame and North Willamette Valley took a 12-9 lead with only six outs left for Pepsi.

Roseburg managed a run in the sixth on a Jace Stoffal RBI single, but that was all they could muster.

Russell led the way for Pepsi with his three hits, two runs scored, and a RBI. Doran Gillespie went 2-for-3 with solo home run and Brody Black went 2-for-4, with two runs scored and a RBI.

Andy Schmitz and Isaac Hansen each had three hits for North Willamette Valley.

The Bottlecaps fall into a loser’s out game against North Coos Friday at 5 p.m. North Willamette Valley moves on to face the La Grande Legends in a battle of undefeated teams at 8 p.m. Friday.

Roseburg Pepsi Bottlecaps 122;401;0 – 10;13;1
North Willamette Valley 413;040;x – 12;14;6
J. Black, Littlefield (4), Johnson and Six. Olson, Hansen (4), Bilyeu (5) and Gra. Henry. WP – Milo Bilyeu. LP – Mason Littlefield.
2B: R – Brody Black (2), Jacob Westwang, Spencer Six. NV – Andy Schmitz, Grant Henry, Nic Iliyn. HR: R – Doran Gillespie. NV – Isaac Hansen.