Philomath High junior Logan Matthews allowed three hits over five innings and hit a two-run home run to help the Warriors to a 12-7 victory Thursday at Stayton.
With the win, the Warriors sweep the series over the Eagles and have now won 10 straight overall. Philomath shares first place in the Oregon West with North Marion, each with 6-0 records.
In Thursday’s win, the Warriors led 8-7 through five innings before adding insurance runs over the final two innings. In the sixth, Rocco De La Rosa led off with a single and Matthews followed with a home run to left field for a 10-7 lead. Later in the inning, Caleb Babcock drove in a run on a single to right.
Philomath’s 12th run came in the seventh on a two-out, one-run single by Mason Stearns.
Matthews faced 24 batters over his five innings of work. Five of the seven runs allowed were unearned and he had four walks and four strikeouts. Babcock pitched the final two innings and dominated by striking out five of the six batters he faced.
Philomath (11-4 overall) broke a scoreless tie in the third on a two-run Stearns single.
After Stayton tied it, the Warriors put up six runs in the fifth. In the inning, PHS sent 11 batters to the plate and scored all six runs with two outs. Stearns had a one-run single and Kayson Olsen followed with another one-run single and on the same play, Stearns reached home on an error. Babcock had a one-run single and later scored when Grant Niemann reached on an error. Kash Lindsey later connected on a double to drive in another run.
Stayton then scored five in the bottom half to set up the final two innings.
Stearns finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Babcock was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and De La Rosa went 2 for 4.
The Eagles (6-10, 0-6) were limited to three singles.
Philomath is scheduled to begin a three-game series against Cascade at home on Monday. The first pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.
