Roseburg baseball falters late in 4-3 loss to Sheldon

The Roseburg High School baseball team was two outs away from clinching its fourth consecutive victory, but Sheldon spoiled the fun with a seventh-inning rally that led to a 4-3 Southwest Conference win for the Irish on Tuesday at Bill Gray Legion Stadium at Champion Car Wash Field.

A sacrifice fly by Asher Olson drove in the go-ahead run for Sheldon (6-6, 4-3 SWC) with one out in the seventh. The Irish avoided the comeback by Roseburg (7-4, 3-2) by getting a quick three outs after a leadoff walk in the home half of the seventh.

Both starting pitchers factored heavily into the outcome of the game with contributions on the mound and at the plate.

Roseburg’s Jake Johnson pitched into the seventh inning, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk, one hit batter and six strikeouts. He left a runner on base when he exited the game, but left with a 3-2 lead intact.

Cal Robbins moved to the mound in relief, looking for his third save of the season. Sheldon’s Cam Thomas promptly singled to left field and later scored the go-ahead run on Olson’s sacrifice fly.

Thomas was 2-for-4 at the plate and also earned the pitching decision for the Irish. Thomas went six innings allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Johnson was 2-for-4 and had two RBIs for Roseburg. The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a single by Johnson and the senior pushed the lead to 2-0 with another single in the third.

Additionally for the Indians, freshman Danner Wertz was 2-for-2 with an RBI in the sixth inning that put Roseburg back ahead 3-2.

Chase Colling was 1-for-3 with two RBIs for the Irish.

Roseburg heads to Eugene to face the South Eugene Axe in a conference doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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Thomas, Wallace (7) and Olson; J. Johnson, C. Robbins (7) and Bowers. W — Thomas. L — C. Robbins (1-1). 3B — Black (R).