COOS BAY, Oregon — Linn-Benton’s baseball squad split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Southwestern Oregon on April 18. In a pair of high-run affairs, the Beaks lost game one 20-12, before taking game two 13-4.
These contests came after a home doubleheader against the Raccoons on April 15. On that day, the Beaks suffered a 6-3 loss in game one before an offensive explosion in game two — a 15-9 victory for the Roadrunners.
On Wednesday, LBCC was led by a 3-for-4 performance from sophomore shortstop Bryant Starr in game one as well as two-hit games from Kellen Segel, Boston Caron and Emmett Stacher.
Segel led the way for the Roadrunners in game two, going 4-for-5 in the contest and scoring four runs. LB also benefited greatly from five SWOCC errors in that game.
Hitting the road after splitting their first pair with the Raccoons, things didn’t exactly go the Beaks way in game one on Saturday’s contests.
Nevertheless, the Roadrunners struck first.
After a scoreless first inning, LB loaded the bases in the blink of an eye in the top of the second with nobody out. Noah Scharer doubled to score Mark Carpenter and Caron. Then, Seth Willy scored on a sacrifice fly by Starr.
The baton was passed along to Chanz Flores, who brought Scharer home on a double of his own.
SWOCC starter Jack Rempfer quickly got things together and retired the side, but not before giving up the 4-0 lead to LB.
In the top of the third, the Roadrunners made it 5-0 after Scharer doubled again to score Caron.
The home half of that inning was when the Raccoon onslaught began, plating five runs of their own to tie things up 5-5.
The bottom of the third was also the only real scuff on Stacher’s day, who started on the mound for LB. Stacher ended with five innings pitched, allowed five runs (all in the third) and eight hits, striking out four batters.
LBCC took back the lead in the fourth inning on an Aiden Hazen single that brought Flores home. And in the fifth, Scharer scored on wild pitch before Jackson Fera roped a double to score Flores and Starr. That made it 9-5 LB.
The Raccoons got one back in the sixth on a fielder's choice to make it 9-6.
Fera picked up another RBI hit in the seventh to score Flores yet again and make it 10-6 Roadrunners
The bottom of the seventh was where things went awry for the Beaks.
Evan Lehnert settled in for his second inning in relief and before he knew it he had given up six hits and four runs and was being taken out of the game.
Head Coach Andy Peterson called upon Kyle Miller to clean up the mess, which he eventually did, but not before the Raccoons were able to score six more runs.
All things considered, SWOCC plated 10 runs on nine hits, seven of them credited to Lehnert. After holding control of the game from the first pitch on, the Beaks suddenly found themselves down 16-10.
The Roadrunners would get a couple more runs in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Scharer and a double from Starr to bring home Caron, but it would end up being too little too late.
After Southwestern Oregon scored four more runs in the home eighth, the scoring in the game was concluded.
Game one ended up being by far the most runs the Beaks have allowed in a single game this season (a March 14 contest with Lane where the Titans scored 12 being second).
Despite the loss, several Roadrunners had great games at the dish – Flores went 3-for-4 and scored three runs, Carpenter went 3-for-5, Fera had three RBI on a pair of hits.
However no one was more on the ball than lead-off man Scharer, who collected four hits in five trips to the plate, knocking in four of his teammates and scoring twice himself.
“I’m just trying to simplify all my movements in the box as the season goes on. As a team we’ve had quality at-bats recently and I think It’s showing up in the score books,” Scharer said.
The second game ended up playing out much more favorably for LBCC.
Things started fairly slowly for each team, but the Roadrunners were right back to relentless offense in the top of the third, scoring runs from a Starr single, a bases-loaded walk, and a sacrifice fly from Segel.
In the home third, SWOCC scored all four of their runs in the ball game to make it 4-3.
Much like his counterpart in game one, LBCC starter Talon McGrorty had a sharp, five-inning outing, marred statistically by a lone inning. In totality, McGrorty gave up seven hits and all four earned runs, while striking out four Raccoon hitters.
His offense would quickly muster back the lead by way of an eight-run fourth inning. The inning started with a single from sophomore outfielder Landon Lea. After him, catcher Tyson McGrorty grounded out but advanced Lea.
One away.
The next out wouldn’t be made until the Beaks batted around and Lea grounded out. Between those points, LBCC racked up six hits to score seven runs, aided by two SWOCC errors. McGrorty added one more cherry on top, scoring Nick Biagi on a single to make the score 11-4 LB.
After a quiet fifth, the Roadrunners cemented their scoring for the day, first on a two-out error that brought Fera home. Then, third baseman Jack Lussier knocked home McGrorty.
After the McGroty brother on the mound’s day had ended, Jake Johnson stepped in for a clean hold in the seven-inning blowout. Johnson worked through two marvelous innings – no hits, no walks, three strikeouts.
“Getting ahead in the count was huge and really helped Tyson and I out because it made it so he could call any pitch he wanted out of my arsenal,” Johnson said. “Mixing the heater and the curveball was very effective and it worked out very well for me.”
By day's end, the Roadrunners had racked up an impressive 32 hits, their most in a doubleheader by a large margin. The team’s batting average has jumped up to .275. Fera and Starr each had three-hit, two-RBI performances in game two, while Flores and Lussier both had two-hit games as well.
LBCC has sent 17 different batters to the dish this season, and according to NW Baseball Statistics, thus far 15 of those players possess a WRC+ over 100 (Weighted Runs Created Plus is a statistic that ranks players’ offensive output compared to league average while adjusting for different ballpark conditions – the hypothetical average NWAC hitter in the most neutral park would have a 100 WRC+).
Despite the high scoring allowed lately, the Beaks have been able to maintain consistency all year long, now holding onto a 30-6 record.
With only eight games left until the playoffs, LB’s next opponent, Lane, is coming in riding a six-game winning streak and currently sits at second in the NWAC South standings, four games back on the Roadrunners.
The Beaks get a short break before the Titans come to town Wednesday, April 29. First pitches are set for 1 and 4 p.m. It should be Lane Simonsen and Cooper Yudishthu’s turns in the rotation.
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