Medford Rogues pull off improbable rally
Late-inning deficits have not been an issue this summer for the Medford Rogues, and the collegiate wood-bat franchise was up to its old tricks Thursday night at Harry & David Field.
Medford shook off a 6-0 deficit and scored seven unanswered runs to rally for an improbable 7-6 victory over the South Bay Storm in the series finale, securing a three-game sweep.
The Rogues (29-8) scored four runs in the seventh inning and three more in the ninth to create their comeback.
Consecutive doubles by Austin Smith and Noah Sudyka sparked a seventh-inning surge that also involved RBI efforts by Mike LaVigne and Josh Williams.
In the ninth, Williams supplied a one-out single and, after Crosby Albee was hit by a pitch, Smith hit a two-out double to make it 6-5. Sudyka followed with a two-run double to the right-center gap for the tying and winning runs.
Smith finished 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI for the Rogues, while Sudyka was 2-for-2 with one run and three RBIs and Williams 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Alec Smith and JD Pinion each went 2-for-5 for South Bay.
Medford was set to return to the field Friday night in the first meeting with the Corvallis Knights (25-8) since 2015.
South Bay Storm011040 000—6123
Medford Rogues000000 403—773
Hartwick, Phillips (6), Algarin (7), Cole (9) and Wood; Henry, Tilton (5), Velarde (8) and Alarcon. W — Velarde (1-1). L — Cole. 2B — SB: Hom, Heverly; M: Smith 2, Sudyka 2.