UCC splits with Lane, takes season series versus Titans
SPRINGFIELD — The Umpqua Riverhawks baseball team bounced-back from a blowout loss in Game 1 against the Lane Titans to split a NWAC South Region doubleheader on Sunday at the Hamlin Sports Complex.
Umpqua (20-18, 17-11 South Region) managed to hang on to second place in the league standings with an 11-1 win in Game 2. Lane blasted its way to a 16-2 win in the opener. Both games went only seven innings.
Lane (20-19, 15-16) needed only nine hits in Game 1 to slug its way to a double-digit victory. UCC’s pitching staff struggled to find the zone and issued 13 walks, giving the Titans plenty of RBI opportunities.
Designated Hitter Declan Francis took full advantage with his only hit of the game, launching a grand slam home run over the left field fence during an 11-run fifth inning.
TJ Dahlke also had a pair of two-run singles to pick up four RBI’s for Lane.
UCC returned the favor in the nightcap. The Riverhawks pulled out to a 6-0 lead in the third inning.
Jackson Thomsen and Carson Dunn both scored on wild pitches to get Umpqua a 2-0 lead and Payton Smith hit a grand slam for the Riverhawks to tack on four more runs.
It was Smith’s first home run of the season.
The Riverhawks added five more runs in the seventh inning. Zane Bidwell had an RBI double, Thomson and Ryland Heckman both drew bases loaded walks and Tristan Schaefer plated two runs with a single.
Schaefer was 2-for-5 in the game and Cole Stoddard was 2-for-2.
Umpqua held on to second place in the South Region standings with the win. The Riverhawks are half a game ahead of Southwestern Oregon with eight games left to go in the regular season.
Second place teams host a super regional tournament in the postseason and have the upperhand on making the eight-team field in the NWAC championship tournament.
UCC and SWOCC are scheduled to meet for four games this week, starting with a doubleheader in Roseburg on Thursday. Game 1 begins at noon from Champion Car Wash Field.
First Game
Umpqua 110 000 0 — 2 5 2
Lane 050 0(11)0 X — 16 9 2
Van Dyke, Moore (5), Hartsell (5), Vint (5) and Robbins, Strother; Geren, Anicker (7) and Dahlke. W — Geren (5-3). L — Van Dyke (1-5). 2B — Takahashi (LCC). 3B — Wa’alani (UCC). HR — Francis (LCC).
Second Game
Umpqua 006 000 5 — 11 7 1
Lane 000 001 0 — 1 8 1
Victoravich, H. Robinson (7) and Strohter; Francis, Warner (4), Price (5), Cheyne (7), Anicker (7) and Devincenzi. W — Victoravich (2-0). L — Francis (3-1). 2B — Bidwell (UCC). HR — Smith (UCC).
