SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Reece Carganilla hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11
th to lift the Bushnell University baseball team to a 7-6 victory over Linfield University in Tuesday’s non-conference game at the Hamlin Sports Complex.
The win marks the first-ever mid-week victory for the third-year program.
Carganilla said, “It was a great battle today and we came out victorious. We played great all-around baseball today and it feels good to win a midweek. All glory to God. Go Beacons!”
Linfield got out to an early 4-0 lead before the Beacons cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second. Carganilla tripled down the right field line and was brought home on a sacrifice bunt by Devin Carter.
Chase Nye sent a two-run double to right center to tie the game at 4-4 in the third and Max Richards hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it a 5-4 lead for the Beacons.
A solo shot over the left field fence by Linfield’s Matthew Lewis tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth and after a scoreless ninth, the Wildcats took back the lead on an RBI-single by Danny Kahn in the 10
th. Declan Francis followed with a double, but Kahn was thrown out at home to end the inning.
Bushnell extended the game with Jenning’s game-tying double in the 10
th and Carganilla walked it off in the 11
th.
Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the 10
th, Albert Jennings hit a double down the left field line, scoring Carter all the way from first to tie the game at 6-6. The Beacons held the Wildcats scoreless in the top of the 11
th, ending the frame with an out at second as the runner missed the base on his way to third.
Cade Crist drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half and Kai Keamo entered as a pinch runner. Keamo stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up Carganilla for the game-winning drive. Carganilla hit a deep enough fly, allowing Keamo to score standing up to secure the 7-6 victory.
The Wildcats used seven pitchers in the contest with no player throwing more than two innings. Brian Mannion (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits in the final two innings.
The Beacons also used seven pitchers with Trevor Hammond (5-2) throwing the final frame for the win. Nye finished with three hits and a pair of RBI, Carganilla tallied two hits and two RBI, while Carter, Jennings and Jordan Wilson also added two hits apiece.
Up Next: Bushnell travels to Vancouver B.C. next weekend to take on the University of British Columbia in a four-game Cascade Collegiate Conference series.