Marshfield wasn’t able to overcome a slow start and fell to host Thurston 9-6 in a Midwestern League baseball game on Monday.

The Colts scored five runs in the first inning and then stopped a late rally when Marshfield scored three times in the seventh.

The loss was another relatively close setback in a month full of similar games for the Pirates, who fell to 1-8 in Midwestern League play.

The Colts improved to 8-1 and hold first place with one game to go in the second round of league play.

“We just didn’t make plays when we had opportunities,” said Marshfield coach Quintin Hall. “I’m proud of the kids. We battled back.”

Brooks Chapman hit a three-run home run in the first inning for the Colts, who had 10 hits in the game. Chapman, Danny Urness and Colin Schauermann had two hits each for the Colts.

“This is the best one through nine hitting team I’ve ever coached against,” Hall said of Thurston’s lineup.

Cody Slack had a single and double and scored two runs for Marshfield. Geoff Van Pulliam also had two hits, while Jesse McClintock and Gatlon Giorgis drove in runs.

“We’re so close to being a great team,” Hall said. “These kids aren’t giving up. They’re going to fight it out.”

Despite rain during the day, the Pirates wanted to get Monday’s game in to avoid a cluttered schedule later in the week with potential rainy weather both today and Wednesday, when Marshfield is scheduled to travel to North Eugene.

Panthers win

Mackenzie Burdett drove in Travis Smith with the winning run in the eighth inning as Gold Beach topped visiting Riddle 8-7 in a nonleague game Saturday.

The Panthers survived a four-error third inning, when Riddle scored four of its runs in the game that was played in snow, hail, rain and sunshine.

Burdett had two hits in the game, as did pitcher Ricco Lang. Jake Hatten went 3-for-4 with a double for the Panthers.

The Panthers were scheduled to host Reedsport for a doubleheader today, but the game was postponed to Wednesday.

Gold Beach is part of a three-team race for the second through fourth spots in the Sunset Conference one game into the second half of the league season. Glide is unbeaten at 7-0 and Myrtle Point, which had the bye Friday, is 4-2. Glide and Cascade Christian are tied for third at 4-3. When the schedule is complete, the top two teams will have spots in the Class 3A playoffs, while the No. 3 team will host the No. 4 squad for another playoff spot.

Rainouts

Monday’s softball game between Marshfield and Thurston was postponed by rain. The game was rescheduled for Thursday. Marshfield is scheduled to visit North Eugene on Wednesday.

All of today’s baseball and softball schedule also was wiped out and pushed to Wednesday, though Thursday might be a better bet. Coquille was scheduled to host Cascade Christian in baseball and softball, while Bandon was to visit Glide. North Bend won’t be playing baseball at Siuslaw or softball against the Vikings at home.