UCC Baseball Sweeps Season Opener, Opens New Era

The Umpqua Community College Baseball team swept a doubleheader over Olympia College Saturday at Bill Gray Stadium at One Champion Field. The Riverhawks returned to Roseburg in front of a crowd of 1,412 people after a 35 year hiatus of college baseball. UCC won 6-2 in the first game and won 7-4 in a comeback win in the nightcap to start the season 2-0. "Exciting day for the Riverhawks," UCC coach Jeremiah Robbins said. "What a great atmostphere for baseball. The crowd was electric. The kids played with energy and passion. Can't thank our admistration and community enough for all they have done to bring the baseball program back." In the second game the Riverhawks trailed 4-1 after the fifth inning but got two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead. UCC tacked on another run in the bottom of the eight as they held on for the win. Michael Freund went 3-5 from the plate with two runs and one RBI in the nightcap. Owen Viano had three RBI including a two-run double in the sixth inning. Preston Johnson started the second game on the mound for the UCC pitching five innings with two strikeouts and four earned runs. Mason Crowson came in relief in the sixth inning and finished the game to get the win allowing only one hit. The Riverhawks play Olympic College in a doubleheader Sunday again starting at 11 a.m.