REDDING, Calif. - After yesterday's rain-induced suspension, Eastern Oregon resumed play on Saturday to earn a split with Simpson in the inaugural doubleheader of the 2024 season.
GAME 1
The opening six innings of yesterday's game saw Eastern Oregon facing a 2-0 deficit following Alex Tolbert's two-run homer in the third inning. However, the team answered in the sixth inning as Joey Freitas delivered a pivotal RBI double that brought in Chase Nett, narrowing the margin to 2-1 before a rain suspension.
Picking up where they left off this afternoon, Simpson extended their lead in the 7th when Andreyes Palacios advanced to third, allowing Brady Meeds to score.
The 8th inning saw a flurry of action, with Eastern Oregon's Freitas grounding out to second, bringing in a run but still trailing 2-3. Simpson widened the gap with Micah Kele's double and additional RBIs from Meeds and Kade Kupihea. Logan Gomes would add to their impressive inning with another double, driving in Kupihea and making the score 7-2 in favor of the Redhawks.
Benat Van Hoose would fight back in the 9th for the Mounties, scoring Greyson McDaniel on an error and crossing home plate himself after a wild pitch. The effort wouldn't be enough as Simpson secured the 4-7 win.
Brock Cordes would be credited with the loss despite a solid 6.0 innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 unearned runs while striking out 7. Cooper Roberts and Tucker Zander contributed in relief.
On the opposing side, Simpson's Eric Winchester earned the win, delivering 5.0 innings of shutout baseball with 3 hits and 7 strikeouts.
GAME 2
The scoring began in the 2nd inning of Game 2 when Eastern Oregon's Van Hoose reached first on an error by the third baseman, also allowing Landeros cross homeplate for a 1-0 Mountie lead.
In the 5th inning, Eastern Oregon extended their lead to 3-0 when Nett doubled and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder, scoring Matthew Carlson and Youhyeon Choi. However, Simpson responded in the bottom of the inning when Tolbert was hit by a pitch, bringing in Dylan Leek. Max Lopez reached first on an error by the shortstop, allowing Titus Sato to score. Kele then singled, bringing in Dominic Folks and tying the game at 3-3.
The 6th inning saw Eastern Oregon regain the lead as Carlson singled, bringing in Brandon Taddy and McDaniel, making it 5-3. Simpson fought back with an RBI triple from Sato and an RBI single from Folks, narrowing the gap to 6-5.
McDaniel's RBI triple for Eastern Oregon scored Gonzalez in the top of the 7th, but Simpson answered after Meeds and Kupihea crossed homeplate to tie the game at 7-7. Gomes then advanced to third on a wild pitch, allowing Palacios to score, putting Simpson ahead 8-7.
Eastern Oregon responded in the 8th, with Tyler Balkenbush capitalizing on a wild pitch and tying the game at 8-8. Landeros' RBI single would then bring in Freitas and Nett, with Landeros then reaching home himself off a sacrifice fly by McDaniel, sealing Eastern Oregon's 11-8 victory.
Shane Sinclair, Nick Salstrom, Jeter Larson, and Jake Herrera all contributed on the mound for Eastern Oregon, with Sinclair lasting 5.1 innings and striking out 4.
Garrett Brogdon started for Simpson, going 5.0 innings and allowing 3 runs (1 earned), while Brendan Moore pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Mountaineers will return to action in Redding for tomorrow's doubleheader with the Red Hawks, start times are listed at 10:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m.