Jimmies drop a pair to visiting Tigers

Doane (Neb.) University jumped out to early leads in both games of Saturday’s GPAC doubleheader at Jack Brown Stadium, defeating the University of Jamestown baseball team 5-1 and 10-6.

Jamestown, now 28-19 overall and 13-12 in the GPAC, wraps up the regular season with a doubleheader against Doane Sunday beginning at 12 p.m.

A five-run third was all the offense the Tigers needed in the opener as Travis Cowan (6-3) went all seven innings on the mound, giving up one run on four hits while striking out seven.

Brett Meyer tripled to lead off the inning against Jimmie starter Dru Fitz, then came home on Nate Mensik’s bunt single. Andy Theiler then reached on a bunt, and one out later Talon Little reached on an error to load the bases. Joe Osborn hit a grand slam on an 0-1 count to make it 5-0.

UJ was held scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Dirk Eymundson reached on a walk, and pinch runner Nolan Turin moved up to second base on a groundout. Pinch-hitter Mike Asahara singled to shallow center, scoring Turin to make it 5-1.

The Jimmies threatened in the bottom of the seventh, getting runners on second and third with two outs, but Cowan struck out Blake Arritola to finish the game.

Fitz (6-1) went six innings, allowing seven hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out seven. Noah Soltero worked a scoreless seventh in relief.

Kendall Yackley was 2-for-3 and Dylan Dudley added a pinch-hit single.

In the second game, Doane took a 2-0 lead after the first and broke the game open with a five-run second against Jamestown starter Payson Mills. Lukas White smashed a three-run home run and Osborn connected on a two-run shot for his second homer of the day.

Dudley homered with one out in the bottom of the fourth, then Yackley’s two-run double later in the inning made it 7-3.

White singled home Tanner Black in the top of the sixth to give the Tigers an 8-3 lead, but Dirk Eymundson’s two-run homer in the bottom half brought the Jimmies within 8-5.

Doane added a pair of runs in the eighth to re-take a five-run lead. Jamestown had one last rally left in the bottom of the ninth against Tiger closer Thaniel Trumper. Matt Meraz and Bauer Sewell hit back-to-back singles, then with one out, Lincoln Trujillo singled to left-center, scoring Meraz and advancing Sewell to second. Brice Foster followed with a single to shallow left, loading the bases still with one out. Trumper then struck out Tayler Cullen and Yackley to preserve the win.

Mills (1-2) lasted two innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out four. Six Jimmie relievers combined to pitch the final seven innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits, with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Christian McCown (1-0), the first of three Tiger relievers, was credited with the win, pitching 1 2/3 innings, striking out four while allowing one hit.

Dudley, Trujillo, and Cullen all had two hits for UJ. Jack Tillman was 4-for-5 to lead Doane, now 30-16-1 overall and 19-7 in the conference.

Doane University 5, University of Jamestown 1

DU 005 000 0 -- 5 7 2

UJ 000 010 0 -- 1 4 1

Batteries: D, Travis Cowan and Tucker Catlett. J, Dru Fitz, Noah Soltero (7) and Dirk Eymundson. W-Cowan. L-Fitz.

Highlights: D, Cowan 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO; JOe Osborn 2-2, HR, 4 RBI; Brett Meyer 1-3, 3B; Jaryn Nakamoto 2-3, 2B.

J, Fitz 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 7 SO; Soltero 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO; Kendall Yackley 2-3, Michael Asahara 1-1, RBI; Tanner Shepard 1-1.

Records: Doane 29-16-1, 18-7 GPAC. Jamestown 28-18, 13-11.

Doane University 10, University of Jamestown 6

D 250 001 020 -- 10 16 0

J 000 302 001 -- 6 12 3

Batteries: D, Aaron Forrest, Christian McCown (4), Kellan Voggesser (6), Thaniel Trumper (9) and Jack Tillman. J, Payson Mills, Cameron Jenkins (3), Ben Ray (5), Logan O'Neil (6), Cameron Multer 7), Austin Pesicka (8), Trey Evans (8) and Dirk Eymundson. W-McCown. L-Mills.

Highlights: D, Forrest 3 1/3 IP, 4 , 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 SO; McCown 1 2/3 IP 1 H, 0 R, 0 B, 4 SO; Lukas White 2-4, HR, 4 RBI; Joe Osborn 2-5, HR, 3 RBI.

J, MIlls 2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 SO; Jenkins 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO; O'Neil 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO; Evans 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO; Eymundson 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Dylan Dudley 2-4, HR, RBI; Lincoln Trujillo 2-4, BB, RBI; Tayler Cullen 2-4, 2B, SB.

Records: Doane 30-16-1, 19-7 GPAC. Jamestown 28-19, 13-12.