ROSEBURG – Three straight doubles by the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s sparked a five-run fifth inning that put the Doc’s ahead of Grants Pass for good in an 11-8 non-league victory Wednesday at Legion Field.
Grants Pass (2-4) broke open a tight ballgame with seven runs in the fourth inning. The Cavemen sent 12 hitters to the plate and collected six hits in the frame to pull ahead of Roseburg 8-2. The Doc’s managed to get four runs back in the home half of the fourth, but still trailed by two.
Roseburg (3-1) regained the lead in the fifth, when nine hitters went to the plate. A one-out triple by Zack Mandera got the offense going. A fielding error on a grounder from Cody Johnson brought Mandera home. Johnson later scored to tie the game on a Jacob Luther sacrifice fly.
Then the Doc’s hit three-straight doubles with two outs to keep the scoring going. Jett Black started the streak. Garrett Russell followed with his own two-bagger and drove in two runs. Zach Holland drove in Russell with an easy stand-up double to right-center.
Russell led the Doc’s offense, going 3-for-3 and raising his season average to .692. He added three RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base.
Holland, Mandera, and Leischner also had two hits apiece. The Doc’s finished with 14 hits total and Luther was the only player to enter the game to go without a hit. Although, he only had one chance after entering the game in the fifth.
Jonathan Stone got the win for Roseburg, after entering in the fourth inning in relief of starter Cade Meisner. Stone tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings and allowed two hits, while striking out two and walking one. Doran Gillespie earned his first save by pitching a clean seventh inning.
The Dr. Stewart’s now prepare for the Grant Smith Wood Bat Tournament in Eugene starting Friday. The Doc’s will be in the four-team Blue Pool and will face Siskiyous (CA), the Vancouver (WA) Mavericks, and the Eugene Challengers. Roseburg’s first game will be against Siskiyous (CA) at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
Games will be played at Swede Johnson Stadium in Eugene. Tune in for coverage of Friday’s game starting at 11:15 a.m. on CBS Sports Radio 1490 The Score or watch online at 541radio.com.
GP CAVEMEN 100;700;0 – 8;7;2
DR. STEWART’S 101;450;X – 11;14;0
Calabro, Tobin (5) and Kroplin. Meisner, Stone (4), Gillespie (7) and Leischner. W – Jonathan Stone (1-0). L – Payton Calabro. S – Doran Gillespie (1).
2B: Bellum (GP), Russell (R), Holland (R), J. Black (R), Ca. Johnson (R). 3B: Mandera (R).