Roseburg pounds Willamette 15-3 in SWC baseball opener

EUGENE — Paxton Burke and Jake Johnson had four hits each and the Roseburg High School baseball team pounded out 21 hits total in a 15-3 romp over Willamette in the Southwest Conference opener at Floyd Ogden Field Wednesday.

Burke was 4-for-5 with a double and three singles and drove in five runs for the Tribe. He credited the team’s energy with getting things going.

“As you can tell, the team did really good with the energy in the dugout and it kept us all going and kept the bats going,” Burke said.

Johnson was 4-for-4 with a home run, double and two base hits. He had three RBIs.

“I think we came in a little bit more mentally prepared, just sitting fastball and adjusting. He was throwing it over the plate and we were just putting barrel to ball and it was working out great,” Johnson said.

Roseburg (4-2, 1-0 SWC) got to Willamette starter Mason Christian early with four hits and a run in the top of the first. The sophomore, a first-team All-SWC selection last season, gave up 11 runs total on 14 hits in just three innings of work.

The outing was a stark difference from last season, when Christian threw a total of 10 innings against the Indians and allowed just three hits, no runs with 11 strikeouts and three walks.

“That was a good arm on the bump and we’re going to see a couple more of those guys, so we just got to keep firing and keep it going,” Burke said.

Every player in the lineup recorded a hit for Roseburg. Cal Robbins (3-for-4), Danner Wertz (3-for-3) and Kaden Austin (3-for-3) all had three hits.

The Indians scored in every inning and broke the game open with six runs in the second, highlighted by Johnson’s two-run homer.

Johnson also earned the pitching decision, allowing three runs on five hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts. He pitched all five innings in the run-rule victory.

Jackson Doughty had two hits to lead Willamette at the plate. Collin Robbins had a two-run single for Willamette in the first inning to briefly give the Wolverines the lead.

Roseburg continues league play with a doubleheader against South Medford starting at noon Saturday at Champion Car Wash Field.

Roseburg;162;42;—;15;21;1

Willamette;200;01;—;3;5;3

J. Johnson and Bowers; Christian, Wright (4) and Doughty. W — J. Johnson (2-1). L — Christian. 2B — St. Clair (R), Burke (R), J. Johnson (R), C. Robbins (R), Doughty (W). HR — J. Johnson (R).