The Eureka Loggers kept their Big 5 title ambitions on track with a doubleheader sweep over Del Norte in Crescent City on Friday.

The Loggers comfortably took the opener 14-2 but had to battle in the nightcap, rallying with four runs in the top of the sixth for a 4-3 win.

With the sweep, Eureka stays unbeaten in league play at 6-0 and has now won seven straight to go to 10-3 on the season.

Del Norte remains winless in the Big 5 at 0-9, although the Warriors came close to getting their first league win.

In game two, Del Norte’s Sebastian Puente pitched a shutout through five innings, while allowing just one hit.

But the Loggers woke up offensively with four hits in the inning scoring four runs, including a clutch two-out, two-RBI single by third baseman Nate Fowler to put his team up 4-3. 

Kalebh Hill pitched the win, allowing six hits while striking out seven.

Great defense

Del Norte got the tying run to second with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, when Eureka second baseman Keenan Morris scooped up the ball after an infield popup landed untouched beside the mound and threw to home for the final out and a big defensive play.

“It was a crazy finish to an exciting game and we were very fortunate to get the win,” Eureka head coach Jackie Christensen said.

Hill, Brady Munson, David Vagle and Jackson Giacone each also had a hit for the visitors, including a double by Vagle.

Giacone also had a stolen base.

Earlier in the day, Munson allowed just two hits in a five-inning complete game as the Loggers won easily, out-hitting the home team 15-2.

Trailing early, Eureka scored seven runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to quickly take control.

“A couple big innings at the plate were the difference in game one,” Christensen said.

In the top of the fourth, the Loggers had eight consecutive batters reach base on six hits.

Giacone continued his impressive freshman season with three hits in the win, including a double, and two RBIs.

Morris, Vagle, Isaak Gutierrez and Hayden Bode each finished with two hits, including doubles by Morris, Vagle and Bode.

Bode also drove in four runs and had a stolen base.

Hill, Drew Nylander and Parker Rodgers each had a hit and an RBI while Munson added a hit and a stolen base.

The Loggers play a key three-game series against Arcata next week, with game one on the road on Wednesday.

BOXES

Eureka 14, Del Norte 2 (5 innings)

Eureka-       000 77- 14 15 1

Del Norte-   010 10- 2 2 1

WP- Munson 5 IP, 7 K, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 ER

Hitting- Morris 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB; Munson 1-4, R, SB; Vagle 2-4, 2B, 2 R; Gutierrez 2-3, RBI, BB; Hill 1-4, RBI, 2 R; Giacone 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R; Nylander 1-2, RBI, 2 R, HBP; Rodgers 1-2, RBI, Sac, 2 R; Bode 2-3, 2B, 4 RBI, SB, R

Game 2

Eureka 4, Del Norte 3

Eureka-        000 004 0-  4 5 1

Del Norte-   100 110 0-  3 6 3

WP- Hill 7 IP, 6 K, BB, 6 H, 3 ER

Hitting- Munson 1-4, R; Vagle 1-4, 2B, RBI, R; Hill 1-3 R; Giacone 1-3, R, SB; Fowler 1-2, 2 RBI, BB

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.