LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon Baseball struggled to generate offense on day two of the series, falling to British Columbia in back-to-back run-rule losses, 15-3 and 14-2, both ending in seven innings.
Game 3
Eastern Oregon opened the day with solid defensive play, holding British Columbia scoreless through the first two innings. The Mounties allowed two baserunners early, but neither advanced far enough to threaten before UBC broke through.
The Thunderbirds erupted in the third inning, plating 10 runs on six hits. Lou Fujiwara sparked the rally with a leadoff double before UBC loaded the bases via free passes. On a ground ball to third, the Mounties attempted to cut down the lead runner at home, but an errant throw allowed two runs to score. Three RBI singles brought in four more, and a bunt to the right side pushed across another. A passed ball and an additional single capped the inning, giving UBC a commanding 10-0 lead.
British Columbia added four runs in the fifth, highlighted by a three-run home run from David Krahn and a run scored on a wild pitch. They tacked on one more in the sixth with a bases-loaded walk.
The Mounties were held in check through five innings before breaking through in the sixth. Taking advantage of a UBC error,
Andrew Demianew reached base, followed by a single from
Alex Olague.
Jaxon Logsdon delivered a double down the left field line to score Eastern Oregon's first run, and a wild pitch brought home another.
Facing the run rule in the seventh, Eastern Oregon showed late fight.
Jake Sauceda drew a walk and
Mario Landeros followed with a single. Demianew drove in Sauceda with a double down the left field line, but the rally ended with a strikeout, sealing the run-rule loss.
Myles Chamberlain (5-0) earned the win, throwing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Reed Stamps (0-3) took the loss for the Mounties.
Game 4
The series finale followed a similar pattern, as UBC's offense remained steady while limiting Eastern Oregon at the plate.
The Thunderbirds took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, capitalizing on a walk and a single before a balk brought in the first run. Jordan Stewart added another with an RBI single.
UBC extended its lead in the third on a two-RBI single from Braeden Scott and an RBI single from Matt Vanslyke. The Thunderbirds continued their momentum in the fourth, scoring four runs on an RBI single and a three-run home run by David Krahn to make it 9-0.
After holding UBC in check briefly, the Mounties saw the game slip further away in the sixth, when the Thunderbirds added five runs, including a grand slam from Scott, to enforce the run rule heading into the seventh.
Eastern Oregon managed just six hits and two walks in the game.
Jace Nagler accounted for both runs, hitting solo home runs in the third and seventh innings.
With the sweep on the day, British Columbia secured the series victory, 3-1.
Up Next
Eastern Oregon will step out of conference play and travel to Ellensburg, Washington, for a nonconference matchup against Central Washington on Tuesday, March 24. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
