ROSEBURG – The Roseburg Indians baseball team rallied from a five-run deficit in game two of a doubleheader against Sheldon on Saturday to pull off their first season sweep of the Irish in eight years.
The Tribe picked up a 10-0 win in six innings in the opener and finished off the sweep with a 7-6 victory in game two.
Zack Mandera pitched six innings to earn his sixth win of the season in the opener. He surrendered five hits and no runs, while walking just two and striking out five.
Roseburg (14-6; 10-5 SWC) scored in each inning and collected 12 hits against the Sheldon pitching staff. The Indians scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single by Mason Littlefield to end the game early.
Brody Black went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead three players with multiple hits. Mandera went 2-for-3 with a triple and drove in two. Garrett Russell also had two hits and two RBI.
Sheldon (9-13; 6-10 SWC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two. The Irish sent all nine hitters to the plate against Roseburg starter Cody Johnson and collected four hits. An error and a balk also allowed the inning to continue.
The Indians cut the deficit to one in the third inning. An error by the Irish shortstop opened the door for Roseburg to send nine hitters to the plate. Jonathan Stone drove in the first run for Roseburg, Cody Johnson added another with a sac fly, and Doran Gillespie added two more with an RBI double.
Brody Black tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and the scored stayed knotted at 5-5 until the sixth. Sheldon regained the lead with a two-out single by Bruce Nealon.
Trailing 6-5 in the home half of the sixth inning, the Indians chose to take a risk. Garrett Russell attempted to steal home with two outs, but was tagged out before touching the plate.
The Indians still trailed by one in the bottom of the seventh. Aidan Wagers came out of the bullpen to close the game out, but surrendered a leadoff walk to Brody Black. The senior would later score on a botched double-play attempt by shortstop Cal Morgan. Cody Johnson hit the ball to Morgan who made the force out at second, but over-threw to first allowing Johnson to reach second.
The next batter, Gillespie, hit a liner up the middle to centerfielder Eli Seno. Johnson was sent to the plate to score the winning run from second. The relay throw was in time to get him, but the tag was missed and he managed to touch home to send Roseburg to victory.
The sweep clinched a playoff berth for Roseburg and the Indians can still secure a second place finish if they win at least two of their final three league games. South Medford clinched the Southwest Conference championship with a sweep against South Eugene.
Up next, Roseburg will visit Willamette for a single game on Tuesday. The contest begins at 4:30 p.m.
Game One
Sheldon 000;000 — 0;5;2
Roseburg 121;312 — 10;12;1
Hill, Huffner (5) and Hansen. Mandera and Jacks. W — Zack Mandera (6-2). L — Bronson Hill. 2B — Co. Johnson (R). 3B — Mandera (R).
Game Two
Sheldon 500;001;0 — 6;9;4
Roseburg 004;100;2 — 7;8;2
Herbert, Haffner (5), Wagers (7) and Hansen. Johnson, J. Black (7) and Jacks. W — Jett Black (1-1). L — Aidan Wagers. 2B — Hansen (S), Gillespie (R). 3B — Hansen (S).
