The Roseburg High pitching staff shutdown North Medford to begin Southwest Conference play with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Legion Field.

“Obviously the name of the game today was pitching for us,” said Roseburg coach Troy Thompson. “And we did a good job on the mound.”

The RHS pitching staff shutout North Medford for 13 of the combined 14 innings played. Zack Mandera tossed a complete game to earn a 4-3 win in game one. North Medford scored all three of its runs in the sixth against Mandera.

In game two, Jace Stoffal threw a no-hitter for six innings and Garrett Zeimet finished out the 4-0 shutout. Stoffal had to leave the mound due to pitch count restrictions and the Black Tornado got their only hit in the seventh against Zeimet, who struck out the side to preserve the shutout.

Roseburg (5-3; 2-0 SWC) took a 3-0 lead in game one on a Jett Black two-out, bases-loaded triple in the third. The hit found the right-center field alley and drove in Spencer Six, Mandera and Doran Gillespie, who all reached base with walks.

The Tribe added a run in the fifth on a throwing error and the insurance run proved important. North Medford (5-5; 0-2 SWC) rallied for three runs on three hits and an error in the sixth inning, but the Black Tornado were stopped in their tracks in the seventh as Mandera retired the side in order for the win.

“Kind of a classic performance by Zack on the mound today,” said Thompson. “Just to battle, keep us close and for us to get enough runs in game one, it was a good win.”

Black finished game one with two of Roseburg’s five hits, both of which were for extra bases.

In game two, the Indians put a run on the board in the first thanks to a Mandera sacrifice fly. That’s all the pitching staff would need, but Roseburg would go on to add three more runs in the sixth on a wild pitch and RBI singles from Luke Van Norman and Six.

Stoffal pitched six shutout innings against North Medford. He managed to escape the six walks he issued by recording nine strikeouts and getting timely defense.

North Medford had a runner in scoring position five different times, but went 0-for-11 in those situations.

Zeimet entered the game to start the seventh inning after Stoffal reached his pitch limit. North’s Cody Borraggine knocked a one-out single to right field to break up the no-hitter, but Zeimet responded by striking out the next two batters to end the day.

“It’s fine,” Stoffal jokingly said with a smile after being asked about Zeimet giving up a hit in the seventh. “I just gave him crap for it, though.”

The Indians did suffer a loss in the game. Senior first baseman Jonathan Stone went down with a knee injury in the second inning of the first game while stretching for a ball at first base.

The 6-7 Stone also suffered injuries to both knees during the recent basketball season.

“It’s going to be one of those day-by-day (situations),” Thompson said. “Hopefully he’s able to recover quickly and get back out on the field.”

Roseburg now sits in first place in the conference after South Medford and Sheldon split a doubleheader and Grants Pass and South Eugene had their match-up postponed. The Indians were picked as the SWC favorites along with South Eugene by a preseason vote of the conference coaches.

Up next, the Indians will visit Grants Pass on Tuesday, weather permitting. Follow the Roseburg Indians on CBS Sports Radio 1490 The Score or watch online at 541radio.com.

Game one
N. Medford 000;003;0 — 3;6;1
Roseburg 003;010;X — 4;5;3
Borraggine, Carpenter (4) and Passey; Mandera and Six. WP — Zack Mandera (2-1). LP — Cody Borraggine. 2B — Huffman (NM), Black (R). 3B — Black (R).

Game two
N. Medford 000;000;0 — 0;1;0
Roseburg 100;003;X — 4;8;2
Sandoval, Dunleavy (6) and Passey; Stoffal, Zeimet (7) and Six. WP — Jace Stoffal (2-0). LP — Ryan Sandoval. 2B — Johnson (R), Van Norman (R).