The Philomath High School baseball team extended its winning streak to five games and opened a three-game series against Stayton Monday with a 10-5 victory at Terry Stephenson Field.
Senior Kayson Olsen and junior Caleb Babcock hit home runs and senior Joe Barnes allowed two hits and struck out 10 in four innings of work.
The Warriors (11-2-1 overall, 4-0 Oregon West) and the Eagles (3-9, 0-4) will play at Stayton Wednesday at 5 p.m. before the series wraps up in Philomath at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Philomath jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run triple by sophomore Jacob Hernandez. After the Eagles tied the score, the Warriors added another two runs in the second on a two-run single by Babcock.
In the third, Olsen led off the inning with a solo shot to center field to give Philomath a 5-3 lead. After the Eagles pulled back to within a run, two more reached home for the home team in the fourth when Barnes led off with a double and came around to score while senior Grant Niemann reached on an error. Junior Rocco De La Rosa, who had walked earlier in the inning, then scored on a balk.
The Warriors put the game away for good in the sixth with three more runs. Babcock led off the inning with a solo home run to right field and senior Brady Russell hit a two-run single to left field.
In the seventh with Stayton threatening to put together a big inning, Babcock made a relief appearance at pitcher with the bases loaded and struck out the next three batters.
Every batter in the Philomath lineup had a hit led by two apiece from Babcock and Barnes. On the mound, Barnes allowed two earned runs and six walks to go along with the two hits and 11 Ks. Griffith pitched two innings and allowed three hits, one earned run and no walks with one strikeout. Babcock was credited with a save.
Senior Grady Salisbury led the Eagles with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Senior Hudson Hughes hit a home run.
