Anderson, Irish slam Colts.

Byline: STEVE MIMS The Register-Guard

Nick Anderson knew it would take a pretty good shot to hit the ball over the center-field wall at Sheldon.

The right fielder saw just what it would take when his grand slam in the first inning went over the wall in the deepest part of the park, sparking the Irish to a 7-6 win over Thurston on Monday afternoon.

"I haven't seen a lot of balls hit out to center field, so I knew I hit it hard, but I wasn't sure it was out," Anderson said. "With guys on base, I just wanted to hit the ball hard. The pitcher left it over the plate and I took a hack."

Anderson's hack resulted in a 4-0 lead that the Irish would not relinquish, although the Colts closed within one run in both the fifth and seventh innings.

The Irish solidified their hold on third place in the Midwestern League by improving to 8-4, while the Colts dropped into second place at 9-3.

Alex Brink threw a complete game for the Irish, allowing nine hits and two earned runs. Three Irish errors led to Thurston's other runs.

"Alex pitched a great game; he got them to hit some high-hop grounders that befuddled us," Sheldon coach Jim Fryback said. "Alex didn't let the errors get to him."

Brink and Zach Moran hit back-to-back singles in the first inning, and then Spencer Bisgaard was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Anderson followed with his third home run of the season.

Thurston scored twice in the second inning and then closed within 4-3 when Ryan Escalera opened the fifth with a double and scored on a Sheldon error.

The Irish answered with three runs in the fifth, with Bisgaard singling in the first run. With two outs, Brian Hanson drew a bases-loaded walk and Jon Higgins added a single to put the Irish ahead 7-3.

Thurston trailed 7-4 entering the seventh inning, but Nick Smith opened the inning with a double and scored on Brian Barley's double.

Cole Smith later hit into a fielder's choice that scored Barley, and Thurston eventually got the potential tying run to second base before Brink retired the final batter.

North Eugene 13, South Eugene 1

The Highlanders scored eight runs in the fourth inning to bury the Axemen and move into sole possession of first place with a 10-2 mark.

Scott Nelson was 3-for-3 and drove in five runs, two on a homer in the first inning and three on a homer in the fourth. A.J. Norris was 2-for-3 with a three-run triple, and Kyle Boettger was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Mike Wectawski had two of South Eugene's five hits.

Churchill 5, Marshfield 0

Erik Lundgren hit a grand slam in the first inning to get the host Lancers off to a fast start in the win over the Pirates.

Kyle Kronmiller struck out five in a three-hitter for Churchill (6-5 Midwestern), which got two singles from A.J. Evanko.

North Bend 8, Willamette 6

NORTH BEND - The Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie in the win over the Wolverines.

Boo Christenson and Andrew Smith had two hits each for North Bend. Christenson and Andy Stupfel drove in two runs each. Ty Zehner was 3-for-4 for Willamette.

CAPTION(S):

Midwestern League Baseball