Photo Credit: Inside the Lines Photography.
EUGENE, Ore – The Klamath Falls Falcons (1-3; 7-14) lost both legs of an Area 4 doubleheader against the Eugene Challengers (8-2; 20-6) on Monday night. Here is how each game went.
GAME 1: EUGENE 12, KLAMATH FALLS 2
The Challengers scored five runs in the first inning helped by a Peyton Tyner two-RBI double. Eli Crist and Grady Saunders each added RBI base hits in the inning that put the Challengers ahead, and they never looked back. Eugene added two more runs in the second, three in the fourth, and walked it off with two in the sixth.
The Falcons scored each of their runs in the third inning when Connor Shively wrapped a base hit to right field to score Ryan Douglas. Then, Max Price scored on a passed ball. Klamath Falls committed three errors in the contest which contributed to two unearned runs.
On the mound, Eugene’s Caden Richardson stifled the Falcons through 6.0 innings allowing seven hits and striking out five batters. Kollin Tacchini earned the loss in 2.0 innings of work allowing eight hits, seven runs, and walked one. Chase Knecht and Dylan DeJong combined for 3.2 innings, two hits, five runs, and six walks. No Challengers struck out in the contest.
Offensively, the Falcons had few bright spots in the lineup. Mark Carpenter was 2-3 and Shively was 1-3 with an RBI.
GAME 2: EUGENE 12, KLAMATH FALLS 5
The Challengers jumped out to a 9-0 lead through the first five innings, including a five-run third inning. Aiden Hazen paced the Challengers with a 3-3 day knocking in four runs and scoring three runs.
The Falcons attempted a late two out rally in the sixth. Max Price singled to load to bases followed by a Shively walk to score Klamath Falls’ first run of the game. Mark Carpenter hit an RBI single then Marcos Ulloa-Ford doubled to score two more runs. Later, Carpenter scored on a wild pitch. Klamath Falls trimmed the Challenger lead to 9-5, however the squad from Eugene answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to slam the door on a Falcons come back.
P.J. Safford collected the loss for the Falcons in his longest outing of the summer, working 3.0 innings giving up seven hits and seven runs. Dylan DeJong pitched in relief for the second time of the night going 3.0 innings giving up five hits and five runs. Drew Wooten picked up the win for Eugene going 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and no runs while striking out three. Shafer and Tyner each pitched one inning of relief.
Marcos Ulloa-Ford lead the offense, turning in a 2-4 day with two RBI and a double that would be the only extra-base hit for the Falcons all day. Mark Carpenter was 3-4 with an RBI. Jacoby Tacchini was 2-4 with a run scored, and Max Price was 2-5 with a run scored. Corbin Hamilton, Carson Siems, and Ian Meyer each had one hit.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Falcons continue Area 4 league play on Wednesday when they visit the Redmond Generals (0-4; 12-4). Klamath Falls returns home to Kiger Stadium on July 8th when they host the Generals. Check out Area 4 broadcasts on mybasin.com/falcons