Thomas Lifts Drifters to First Series Win of the Season
(Photo by Alyssa Garcia)
By Dillon Zamperin
SPRINGFIELD — Through the first nine series of the season, the Drifters found themselves splitting the first two games of a series and dropping the series finale seven times. But on Wednesday night, the Springfield Drifters (8-18, 5-13) didn’t need to force a rubber match to try and win a series as Springfield defeated the Marion Berries (12-16, 9-15) 2-1 for the second straight night to earn their first series win of the year.
After ending June with a win on Tuesday, the Drifters started July on the right foot with a fantastic game from UC Santa Barbara outfielder Evan Thomas at the plate and strong outings from the pitching staff once again.
“The pitching staff has been super fun to watch over the last few games,” Head Coach Jeff Lyle said. “It’s really exciting.”
Thomas went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including a clutch RBI double in the fifth inning that gave the Drifters a lead they would not give up for the rest of the night.
“It’s great having him anywhere at the top of the lineup. He’s so cool and collected,” Lyle said. “His heart doesn’t beat very fast, and he’s able to get very intense competition-wise without getting tense.”
Thomas had two singles in the first three innings of the game and was hit by a pitch in the seventh, reaching base in all four plate appearances. He was named the Drifter of the Game following the career night for Springfield.
“He threw me a changeup with two strikes [in the fifth], so I just fought it off and put it down the line,” Thomas said. “Doing my job at the end of the day. Try[ing] to get on base every time I get up to the plate.”
The first Drifter run of the game came in the third inning with a bases-loaded walk from junior first baseman Nolan Miller of the University of Portland. The three batters before the cleanup hitter each got on base with two outs, setting up the third-year Drifter with an excellent opportunity to tie the game, which he did. Although he went hitless, Miller earned a bases-loaded walk in the inning to tie the game at one in the tightly contested contest.
Another longtime Springfield player with a great game was redshirt junior second baseman Cooper Mullens from Michigan. Mullens put Springfield in a perfect position to score both runs on the night, as he walked in the third inning, scoring on Miller’s walk, and walked in the fifth to score the go-ahead and winning run from Thomas’s double. The fourth-year Drifter finished the night with two walks, one hit and both runs scored.
On the mound, redshirt junior right-hander Cooper Strawn from the University of Oregon had a career night, pitching a season-high six innings, allowing just one hit. Going along with the record-setting night, he struck out a career-high eight batters while giving up just one run during the first inning.
Following a rocky start and a couple of walks, Strawn settled in quickly, drawing similarities to Tuesday night’s starter, Tristan Ledbetter. Strawn was able to keep his pitch count to 98 pitches, allowing him to finish six dominant innings in what turned out to be a career outing.
“He’s got an electric power arm, and he’s got so much riding movement,” Lyle said. “(He left) the pitching staff with a really good example of somebody going out and just giving it all they have.”
Despite a career night, Strawn now leaves the Drifters after three games but certainly left his mark in Wednesday’s win.
Senior right-hander Sonny Pena of Cal State Monterey Bay followed up Strawn’s magnificent night with some magic of his own. Across two near-perfect innings, Pena struck out four — three looking — while allowing just one Marion batter to reach base. Pena’s scoreless inning streak now reaches 10.2 innings, dating back to June 14.
“Sonny nursed himself back from having a lat injury, and each outing has just gotten better and better,” Lyle said. “It’s his confidence; his stuff has always been good [and] he’s got a good arm.”
Piggybacking off Pena was graduate right-hander Drew Miller, who is currently in the transfer portal after graduating from George Fox. Miller worked around a leadoff single by picking off the runner on his way to earning his first save of the summer in the victory. Miller pitched an otherwise clean ninth inning with a strikeout to end the game and give the Drifters their first series win of the season.
Across nine innings, Springfield allowed just three hits, bringing the total hits allowed in the series for the Berries to just five across the past 18 innings. Additionally, both games have been 2-1 victories, as the Drifters’ pitching has significantly silenced the Marion bats.
“We don’t like talking about [getting a sweep], but it’s hard not to think about or talk about a big night tomorrow night,” Lyle said. “Hamlin deserves it, the crowd deserves it, the employees. Everyone deserves to go out and have a sweep tomorrow, and we’ll give it our best shot.”
The Drifters will look to complete their first sweep of the year in the series finale on Thursday night against the Berries at Hamlin Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Rice right-hander Ethan Atchley gets the start.
Thursday will be the Drifters’ Fourth of July Fireworks Show! Join us for our post-game Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza as we ring in America250 by getting Drifty. Kids under 12 will need a ticket to enter the ballpark. Additionally, Thursday is Bike to the Ballpark. Skip the trouble of parking by riding your bike to receive a free hat and hot dog voucher, courtesy of the City of Springfield. North Eugene Babe Ruth will also be in attendance and will be fundraising money with a 50/50 raffle.
Tickets are available online at driftersbaseball.com. The game will be live-streamed for free on the Springfield Drifters’ YouTube Channel.