LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eastern Oregon baseball secured a Saturday sweep over the University of British Columbia, defeating the Thunderbirds with final scores of 3-2 and 11-6 at Optimist Field.
GAME ONE
After five innings of scoreless baseball, British Columbia drew first blood as Russell Young’s double to right center brought in David Draayers, giving them a 1-0 lead. Eastern Oregon answered back in the same inning when Parker Cumberland grounded out to 2nd base, allowing Brandon Taddy to score and tie the game at 1-1.
Notched at one run apiece, the Thunderbirds regained the lead in the eighth as Mitchell Middlemiss’s double to right center brought Trent Lenihan home. However, Eastern Oregon refused to let the game slip away. In a pivotal late-game moment, Rogelio Gonzales capitalized on a wild pitch, leveling the score at 2-2.
With the game on the line, Tommy Whiles stepped up for the Mounties and delivered a clutch single up the middle, bringing in Taddy and giving Eastern Oregon a crucial 3-2 victory.
On the mound, Alex Farnsworth earned the win after closing out the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run. Vicarte Domingo was credited with the Thunderbirds’ loss after allowing two earned runs and three hits.
Standout Performers:
British Columbia:
- Jonny McGill: 2 for 3
- Russell Young: 1 for 5, 2B, 1 RBI
- Mitchell Middlemiss: 1 for 4, 1 RBI
Eastern Oregon:
- Parker Cumberland: 2 for 4, 1 RBI
- Tommy Whiles: 1 for 3, 1 RBI
- Mario Landeros: 1 for 2
GAME TWO
Game two opened with both teams adding to the scoreboard in the 1st inning. British Columbia took an early lead as Draayers smashed a double to right center, driving in two runs. Eastern Oregon then responded, leveling the score at 2-2 off a double down the left-field line from Trevor Baker.
The Thunderbirds edged ahead once more in the 3rd inning after a Middlemiss single through the right side brought McGill home and claimed the lead. However, the Mounties once again countered in the same inning, as Joey Freitas smacked a double down the left-field line and drove in Cumberland, knotting the score at 3-3. Shortly after, Mario Landeros’s double to right field propelled Freitas across home plate, giving Eastern Oregon a 4-3 advantage.
The Mountaineers extended their lead in the 4th inning when Freitas’s single up the middle brought in Danny Burns, extending their lead to 5-3. However, British Columbia stayed in the fight, narrowing the gap in the 5th inning with an RBI double to right-center plated from McGill.
Eastern Oregon then created separation with the home runs in the sixth inning, with Youhyeon Choi, Freitas, and Landeros all finding their way past the fence.
The Thunderbirds rallied late in the 8th and 9th innings, with Lenihan’s homer to right center and McGill’s walk with the bases loaded, respectively, adding two more runs to their tally. However, Eastern Oregon’s defense held firm, securing the 11-6 victory.
Will Seslar earned the Mounties’ victory after recording eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings pitched. Ryan Beital was credited with the loss after giving up 10 hits and five earned runs.
Standout Performers:
British Columbia:
- Trent Lenihan: 3 for 4, 3 R, 1 RBI
- Jonny McGill: 2 for 4, 2 RBI
- Mitchell Middlemiss: 2 for 4, 1 RBI
Eastern Oregon:
- Joey Freitas: 4 for 5, 3 R, 5 RBI
- Parker Cumberland: 2 for 5, 2 R
- Mario Landeros: 2 for 5, 1 R, 2 RBI
The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow at Optimist Field when they rematch with the University of British Columbia at 11 a.m.
