SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College baseball overcame an early five-run deficit with timely hitting and strong relief pitching to defeat NAIA Bushnell University 7-5 on Tuesday night at Hamlin Park.
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark 7, Bushnell 5
(Lewis & Clark 8-8)
(Bushnell 23-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Justin Cavagnaro led the Pioneers offensively, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Sophomore Michael Aikawa added a 2-for-3 performance with a double and two runs scored, while senior Brennen Davis drove in two runs and scored another.

Lewis & Clark used eight pitchers in the game, with sophomore Owen Eisen getting the start on the mound. He struck out three Beacons and allowed three runs on four hits in two innings. The Pioneers' bullpen was outstanding, as six relievers combined to shut out Bushnell over the final six innings.

Sophomore Connor Broschard earned his first win of the season with a scoreless seventh inning that included two strikeouts. Fellow sophomore Bret Potter, who started the game in right field, moved to the mound in the ninth and worked around two singles to secure his second save of the season.

The Pioneers fell behind early, as Bushnell scored three runs in the second inning and added two more in the third to build a 5-0 lead. Lewis & Clark made a pitching change with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the third, bringing in first-year Dillon Foster. He struck out the first batter he faced and forced a groundout on the next to stop the Beacons.

Lewis & Clark's offense came alive in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to cut the deficit to one. Cavagnaro sparked the rally with a two-run double to left field, scoring Aikawa and pinch-runner Broschard.

After senior Will Heron walked, Davis singled through the right side to drive in Cavagnaro, making it 5-3. Potter followed with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Davis to pull the Pioneers within one.

Bushnell threatened in the sixth with first-year Sam Burchi on the mound. The Beacons' first two batters reached base on an error and a walk, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Burchi struck out the next batter but still faced two runners in scoring position. He loaded the bases with another walk, then escaped the inning unscathed by striking out the final batter swinging.

In the seventh inning, first-year Jacob Shannon-Wilkerson reached base with a two-out walk, stole second, and advanced to third on an infield single by junior Brandon Gonzaga. Shannon-Wilkerson then stole home during first-year pinch hitter Evan Carrubba-Rice's at-bat. Gonzaga had started for second on a pitch outside, and when the Bushnell catcher threw to second, Shannon-Wilkerson broke for home, tying the game at 5-all.

In the top of the eighth, Aikawa singled to center field, and Cavagnaro delivered his second clutch hit of the game, doubling through the left side to drive in Aikawa and give the Pioneers their first lead at 6-5. Cavagnaro then advanced to third on a Bushnell throwing error.

Lewis & Clark added an insurance run when Davis hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Cavagnaro to extend the lead to 7-5.

Bushnell put runners at the corners with two outs in the ninth, but Potter froze Cade Crist with a called third strike to end the game.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Broschard earned his first career win with two strikeouts against four batters.
• Five pitchers combined for a season-high 11 strikeouts: Eisen (3), Foster (1), Burchi (2), Broschard (2) and Potter (2).
• Cavagnaro's two doubles moved him into first place in the Northwest Conference with 11 this season. He ranks fourth in batting average (.419) and slugging percentage (.694) in the NWC.
• Aikawa is third in the conference in batting average (.429) and second in on-base percentage (.514).

WHO'S NEXT
 
The Pioneers return home for a four-game series against Puget Sound this weekend, with three of the games counting toward the NWC standings. The first two games are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m. Saturday.