via Mike Safford; Photo Credit: Inside the Lines Photography
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Eli Havey hit a 2-run seventh-inning homer in Game 1 and a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning in Game 2, providing the winning runs in the Medford Mustangs doubleheader sweep of the Klamath Falls Falcons at Kiger Stadium.
The Mustangs (29-12-3, 11-5 Area 4) grabbed the opener, 6-5, taking the nightcap, 8-7, clinching a postseason berth – while eliminating the Falcons from the postseason chase.
Havey crushed a 2-run homer off Dylan DeJong in Game 1 to give Medford a 6-3 lead – only to see the Falcons (9-24, 3-13) make it interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Singles by Mark Carpenter and Marcos Ulloa-Ford were followed by a walk to Jacoby Tacchini. Kollin Tacchini laced a 2-run double to right-center to pull Klamath within a run, but Jacoby Tacchini was thrown out at home trying to score the tying run. Grady Sickler entered for the Mustangs, coaxing a pop-up and ground out to end the game.
Jake Lewis earned the win, striking out seven in four-plus innings of work, with Easton Curtis and Kyle Cope posting 2-hit games. Ulloa-Ford and Carson Siems each were 2-for-4 for the Falcons, with P.J. Safford and Jacoby Tacchini each recording RBI singles in a 3-run Falcons third. Carpenter took the loss, allowing two earned runs in six innings, fanning seven.
Under the lights, Medford took a 5-0 lead in the fourth – capitalizing on seven walks from Ulloa-Ford with Curtis roping an RBI single in the second and Cope hitting a 2-run double in the fourth.
Klamath chipped away – as Jacoby Tacchini lined an RBI single in the fourth and a 2-run single in the fifth to get within 5-3, with Ulloa-Ford pulling the hosts within a run by scoring on a wild pitch. In the sixth, Safford was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch to square the game at 5-5.
The Mustangs regained the lead in the seventh, as Kaden Long hit a seeing-eye 2-out, 2-run single up the middle to give the visitors a 7-5 lead – only to have the Falcons rally again. Corbin Hamilton hit a one-out double and Carson Pimley singled – putting runners at the corners. Safford ripped a two-strike pitch into right for an RBI single – extending his hit streak to 10 games. With two outs, a balk allowed Pimley to score, forcing extra innings.
In the eighth an error to start the inning proved to be the difference – setting the stage for Havey, who lined the first pitch he saw into left for the go-ahead RBI single. Klamath was retired 1-2-3 in the eighth to end the game.
Long earned the win, working around two runs and four hits – with Curtis going 2-for-3. Safford took the loss in relief, tossing a season-high four innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out three, with Jacoby Tacchini going 2-for-5 with three RBI.
Klamath hits the road for four weekend games – playing a doubleheader Friday in Portland at the Hillsdale Merchants, before heading to Roseburg for a Saturday date at the Doc Stewarts.
