ROSEBURG – The Roseburg baseball team came through in the clutch moments to sweep its first Southwest Conference doubleheader of the season. The Indians defeated Grants Pass 6-4 and 10-6 on Monday at Legion Field.
Playing in a pair of make-up games that had been rescheduled from March 24, the Indians found themselves trailing early in both games.
Grants Pass took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener on a solo home run by Ty Rund. The senior hit it high over the left field wall, clearing the outfield wall easily. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second when the Indians took the lead.
Roseburg’s Terrell Jacks drove in the first run on a single to center and Jett Black drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout to second. The Tribe tacked on a run in the fifth, but the 3-1 lead didn’t hold.
Grants Pass tied the game on a two-RBI double by Cade King in the top of the sixth. Payton Calabro drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single.
The momentum was short lived as the Indians regained the advantage in the home half of the sixth. Zack Mandera led off with a double and Roseburg would go on to score two runs on bases loaded walks and a sacrifice fly to right field.
Mandera went the distance on the mound, getting the complete game victory for his fourth win of the season. He allowed four runs on six hits, while striking out eight and walking two. Terrell Jacks finished with a 2-for-2 game with two RBI. Cody Johnson added a pair of hits.
Neither pitching staff was overly sharp in the nightcap. Roseburg’s pitching staff allowed eight walks, while Grants Pass surrendered nine. The teams traded the lead back-and-forth until Roseburg broke the game open with five runs in the fifth inning.
Grants Pass(3-7; 0-3 SWC) committed two errors in the fifth and Roseburg (7-1; 3-0 SWC) managed three hits. A pair of walks helped the inning continue for the Indians and they took advantage of the opportunities. The edge was too much for the Cavemen to overcome as they managed just one run the rest of the game.
Garrett Russell led the Indians with three hits in the finale and Jett Black drove in two runs on a 2-for-2 game. Jace Stoffal picked up his second win of the season in relief. He tossed 3 1/3 innings and allowed one hit and one unearned run, while striking out five.
Up next, the Roseburg Indians will visit South Medford for a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one starts at noon from Harry & David Field in Medford.
Game One
G.P. 100;003;0 – 4;6;1
RHS 020;013;X – 6;7;0
Rund, Bellum (6) and Dinkel. Mandera and Jacks. WP – Zack Mandera (4-0). LP – Tyler Rund.
Game Two
G.P. 111;201;0 – 6;7;5
RHS 211;051;X – 10;7;2
King, Coyle (5) and Dinkel. Co. Johnson, Stoffal (4) and Jacks. WP – Jace Stoffal (2-0). LP – Chase Coyle.
