Gladstone took the lead in the fifth inning with a pair of runs on Philomath miscues to post a 5-4 victory over the Warriors in a nonconference high school baseball game Thursday evening at Stephenson Field.
Junior pitcher Collin Smith threw a complete-game five-hitter, walked one and struck out five for the visiting Gladiators to even their record at 2-2.
Gallery: PHS baseball vs. Gladstone (March 21, 2024)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 5-4 baseball loss to Gladstone at Stephenson Field on Thursday.
Philomath (0-2) got off to a promising start in the first inning with a double play in the top half and three runs in the bottom half.
Gladstone’s Sully Marcoe hit a one-out single up the middle and Smith followed with a walk to give the visitors an early chance to score in the top of the first. But the Warriors turned an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play on a ground ball to second baseman Kayson Olsen, who threw to shortstop Mason Stearns for the force followed by the finish to Brady Russell at first.
In the bottom half, Grant Niemann and Stearns hit back-to-back singles to left field and then Caleb Babcock hit an infield grounder that forced Stearns out at second and moved Niemann to third. Russell followed by putting a ball in play to the shortstop, who fumbled with the ball and was charged with an error while Niemann scored. After a fly out to center that moved Babcock to third, Olsen hit an outfield single to drive in Babcock and as the ball skipped past the left fielder, Russell scored for a 3-0 lead.
Gladstone came back with two runs on three singles in the top of the second to pull to within 3-2. Babcock, who pitched four innings for the Warriors, ended the inning with a strikeout. The Gladiators tied the score in the third when Isiah Conner hit a two-out single, moved up on a Loghan Peterson single and scored on a wild pitch.
The Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Olsen hitting a leadoff double. After stealing third, he later scored on a wild pitch.
Gladstone’s final two runs followed in the fifth. Brandon Dees led off by reaching on a dropped third strike. Errors allowed the next batter, Marcoe, to reach while Dees came around to score to tie the game. Marcoe scored himself on a ground ball by Conner. Philomath later ended the inning with Smith out on a play at the plate.
The Warriors couldn’t get anything going offensively the rest of the way. Babcock reached with two outs in the fifth when he was hit by a pitch but was stranded when the next batter grounded out.
After going down 1-2-3 in the sixth, Philomath showed some life in the seventh with Joe Barnes hitting a one-out single to center field. Niemann grounded into a fielder’s choice to force Barnes at second. The game ended with Niemann ruled out on the base paths on an offensive interference call.
Babcock allowed six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in his four innings of work. Barnes threw three innings and allowed one hit and two walks with six strikeouts. Olsen was the top offensive contributor with a 2-for-3 effort with one run and one RBI.
Philomath is scheduled to play three games over two days at a tournament in Newport. The Warriors open Monday with games at 9 a.m. vs. Dallas and 11:30 a.m. vs. St. Helens. Philomath then faces Henley at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The team’s next home appearance is scheduled for April 1 against Crook County.
