LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon Baseball had its 2022 home opening day spoiled as the team dropped a pair of games Saturday against Bushnell University. The Mountaineers fell 5-1 and 6-4 in the doubleheader slate to move to 7-24 on the year and 0-6 in league play.

Game 1 – Bushnell 5, Eastern Oregon 1 
How it Happened
• Defensive miscues plagued the Mounties in the series opener as they committed four errors, while the offense mustered just three hits. Bushnell (8-20, 6-0 CCC) had no errors and seven hits.
• The Beacons did the majority of their damage in the third, scoring four runs and added a run in eighth. EOU's lone run came in the bottom of the ninth.
• An RBI single to deep right center scored the first run for the Beacons. A throwing error by the Mounties later on in the frame added two runs to the board to make it a 3-0 score.
• The fourth run of the third inning was scored on an RBI groundout to the shortstop. It remained 4-0 until the eighth when a throwing error by EOU's infield allowed a run to score following a base hit.
• The lone run of the series opener for Eastern was on a two-out RBI double from Matt Garcia that scored Hector Carreon. The Beacons then closed the game on a foul out to hold on for the win.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Hector Carreon hit 1-4 and scored one run.
• Matt Garcia batted 1-4 and tallied one RBI.
• Elliott Marks also had one hit in four at bats.
• Jaydon Yancey (1-2) pitched a complete game and struck out five batters.

For the Beacons 
• Reece Carganilla went 2-4 at the plate and scored one run.
• Daniel Furman batted 1-5 with an RBI and scored one run.
• Kyle Casperson tallied a hit in two at bats and scored a run.
• Abbott Haffar (2-4) pitched seven frames in the win and had a game best six strikeouts.
• Trenton Hough earned the save, closing out the final two frames.

Game 2 – Bushnell 6, Eastern Oregon 4
How it Happened
• The second game was a closer affair as the Beacons managed to hold off EOU by two runs. Both teams had nine hits in the contest, but another four-run third inning helped Bushnell secure the win.
• Defensively, the Mounties bounced back from game one and committed just one error. On the flip side, Bushnell had two on the day.
• EOU grabbed its lone lead of the day in the first inning. A Hector Carreon sacrifice fly to left allowed Austin Gerding score, making it a 1-0 game.
• Bushnell quickly tied the game in the second with back-to-back hits, including an RBI double to center field to make it 1-1 in the second. The Beacons then exploded for four runs in the third.
• The surge by Bushnell helped the team go ahead 5-1 on EOU. The four runs for the Beacons were scored on a pair of two-run homers, both to right center, to put them ahead by four.
• Following a scoreless fourth frame, EOU responded in the fifth scoring three runs to get within one. A wild pitch scored the first run in Brooks Dyer. 
• Matt Garica cut the Beacons' lead to one on a two-out single that scored a pair of runs. His base hit through the left side plated home McKlane Elgin and Adrian Roa.
• The Beacons got some help from lady luck on their final run. A pair of walks got runners on before an RBI base hit to right field scored the insurance run to bring the score to its final of 6-4.
• Fast forward to the ninth, EOU looked to rally with two outs. Carsten Manderbach doubled to right center. Elgin then hit a single, hoping to score Manderbach, but he was tagged out on the throw home to bring the game to a close.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• McKlane Elgin hit 2-3 and scored a run. He also drew two walks.
• Matt Garcia went 1-4 at the plate and tallied two RBI.
• Adrian Roa finished 1-3 at the plate and scored one run.
• Davis Brown (2-5) pitched five complete in the loss and had a game-high eight strikeouts.

For the Beacons 
• Brandon Reed was 3-3 at the plate with two RBI and scored a run.
• Jeff Fripp hit 2-4 with a run scored and had two RBI.
• Adam Sabatino (2-3) earned the win, pitching five complete in the start. He had two strikeouts.
• Jayden Soriano earned the save, his second, as he closed out the final four frames.

By the Numbers
8 - Davis Brown has thrown a career best eight strikeouts in back-to-back starts.
5 - EOU hit five doubles on the day in the two games against Bushnell.
1 - Jaydon Yancey pitched his first career complete game as a Mountaineer on Saturday.
15 - EOU fanned a season-high 15 batters in game two against Bushnell.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers and Beacons wrap up the series tomorrow, March 27, with another doubleheader. First pitch is once again set for 11 a.m. out at Optimist Field in La Grande.

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