In the rubber match of a three-game series Thursday between baseball rivals Philomath and Newport on the Coast, the winner could not be determined in the regulation seven innings. But in the top of the eighth, Philomath junior Grant Niemann hit a one-run single to give the Warriors a 7-6 lead and in the bottom half, junior Logan Matthews closed it out with the game ending up a pop-up to third base.
The one-run victory keeps Philomath (16-5 overall, 11-1 league) just one game behind North Marion (19-2, 12-0) in the Oregon West Conference standings. The Warriors will have home-field advantage with games at Terry Stephenson Field on Monday and Thursday. In between those matchups will be a trip over to North Marion’s campus outside Aurora.
With the game tied 7-7, Philomath opened the eighth against a new Newport pitcher in junior Rory Barber and sophomore Rocco De La Rosa was soon aboard when hit by a pitch. Matthews followed with a single to center field but De La Rosa was thrown out at the plate with the Warriors taking a chance on getting the lead. Matthews ended up at third on the play and Niemann followed with what would be the game-winning hit on a single to left field.
Newport got one batter on base in the bottom of the eighth with Quinten Layton reaching when hit by a pitch. That occurred with two outs and the game then ended on the pop-up, which was handled by De La Rosa at third.
Philomath trailed 2-0 after the first inning but tied it up in the second with two runs coming in on Newport errors. In the fourth, the Warriors took a 3-2 lead when Matthews hit a one-run single.
The Cubs (11-9, 6-6) tied it up in the bottom of the fourth before falling behind 5-3 in the fifth. Sophomore Caleb Babcock scored when junior Kayson Olsen reached on an error. Two batters later, freshman AJ Altishin singled to drive in Olsen.
Newport got back to within 5-4 in the fifth inning and was threatening but the inning ended when Babcock picked up a base runner at first.
Philomath took a 6-4 lead in the sixth when senior Mason Stearns hit a double to drive in Matthews, who led off the inning with a walk.
However, Newport came through under pressure in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Collin Fierro hit a one-run single and junior Chris Jacobsen scored on the front end of a double steal. Philomath got out of the inning with a line drive out to center field and a ground ball out to second base.
Babcock started for the Warriors and allowed five hits, four runs, one earned run and one walk with four strikeouts in five innings. Matthews threw three innings and allowed just one hit, two runs, two earned runs, two walks and had one strikeout.
At the plate, Matthews and Stearns both ended up going 2 for 4. Fierro was Newport’s top hitter by going 2 for 3.
Monday’s home game against No. 1 North Marion is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
