Prep Baseball: Offensive outburst leads Roseburg to split with South Medford
MEDFORD — The Roseburg Indians had 12 hits, including four doubles, in the nightcap of a Southwest Conference doubleheader against South Medford to escape with one win in the series and snap a five-game losing streak Saturday at Harry and David Field.
The Indians poured it on the Panthers for an 18-7 victory in Game 2 of the twin bill, while South Medford started the day with a 3-2 comeback victory in Game 1.
“Coming out on the wrong end of a 1-run ball game is never fun, but a good response by (our team),” Roseburg coach Troy Thompson said. “Our kids had some really great swings in the last couple of innings (in Game 2) and that was great to see for us. A little bit of hard work paying off.”
Roseburg’s win was loaded with offensive statistics. The Indians overcame a 4-2 deficit with nine runs in the fifth and seven runs in the sixth inning. Roseburg (11-8, 7-5 SWC) sent 13 hitters to the plate in both frames.
Christian Korba, Danner Wertz, Nick Ruiz and Greyson Coate all had doubles for the Tribe. Wertz was 2-for-4 in the game with five RBIs.
South Medford (13-8, 8-7) saw its pitchers hit six batters in the game and walk seven. The extra runners on base made Roseburg’s big swings even more impactful.
Korba got the win on the mound after going 4 1/3 innings. The freshman wasn’t his sharpest, but got plenty of run support. Korba allowed seven runs on seven hits, while walking three, hitting three batters and striking out one.
Cole Johannes was 2-for-3 for the Panthers and drove in a pair of runs.
The Indians and Panthers went back-and-forth in the opener.
South Medford scored in the first on a ground out and led 1-0 through the first four innings.
Roseburg tied the game in the fifth inning. The Indians scored on a throwing error. Panther’s second baseman Dalton Ruettgers was attempting to complete an inning-ending double play, but his throw bounced past first baseman Jake Lewis and allowed Ruiz to score.
Korba drove in the go-ahead run with a sharp groundball up the middle in the sixth inning that scored Paxton Burke and put Roseburg up 2-1.
South Medford quickly responded in the home half of the sixth inning against Roseburg starter Fletcher Coleman. The Panthers smacked four consecutive two-out singles to produce two runs. Johannes came through with the entual game-winning hit in a pinch hit appearance.
Coleman took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked four and struc kout one.
Jedi Robertson earned the win with a complete-game performance. The senior struckout nine over seven innings and allowed just two runs on two hits with two walks.
Up next, the Roseburg Indians will host conference-leading Willamette at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Champion Car Wash Field.
First Game
Roseburg;000;011;0;—;2;2;1
S. Medford;100;002;X;—;3;8;3
Coleman and Bowers; Robertson and Douglas. W — Robertson (3-2). L — Coleman (1-2). 2B — Painter (SM).
Second Game
Roseburg;101;097;—;18;12;2
S. Medford;220;030;—;7;9;2
Korba, Glasser (5), Coate (6) and Bowers; Lewis, Thomas (5), Patrick (6), Thomas (6) and Douglas. W — Korba (3-2). L — Lewis (3-2). 2B — Korba (R), Wertz (R), Ruiz (R), Coate (R).
