6 Run 9th gives Elks 3 game sweep over Cowlitz Black Bears
July 21, 2013 - West Coast League (WCL)
Bend Elks News Release
The Bend Elks trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the 9th inning in what was a highly contested ball game, but Bend sent 11 hitters to the plate in the 9th inning, as Derek Dixon came through with a 3 run double, Tyler Servais had an RBI single, and Turner Gill had an RBI double as the Elks scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th inning, and Tanner Ring shut down the Black Bears as Bend earned a 3 game sweep with an 8-3 victory.
The Elks jumped onto the scoreboard first in the top of the 2nd inning as Arizona State outfielder Cullen O'Dwyer ripped a solo home run, his 2nd of the series, and Bend lead early 1-0.
Cowlitz (18-18) would respond in the bottom of the 5th inning as Tanner Pinkston kicked off the inning by reaching on an error by Bend 2nd baseman Seth Spivey, Paul Martinez dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and Austin Grebek and Taylor Bryant drew walks to load the bases with 2 outs, ending the night of Elks starter Martin Brown. In came Garrett Anderson, and his 2-2 pitch to Black Bears right fielder Devyn Bolasky dropped into shallow center field, scoring 2 runs, as Cowlitz took the 2-1 lead.
The score would stay there until the top of the 8th inning as Landon Cray singled and advanced to third on the single from Seth Spivey with one out when Derek Dixon came to the plate and delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2.
The Black Bears would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the 8th inning as Bolasky, who had 6 of the 10 hits for the Black Bears in the series, singled to open up the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Dillon Ness, and scored on a groundball that went through the legs of Elks 3rd baseman Kyle Giusti, making it 3-2 Cowlitz after 8 innings.
In the top of the 9th, Grant Newton had a 1 out single and was still on 1st base with 2 away after Keach Ballard flew out to left field against Brian McAfee (5-1), the Black Bears closer who hadn't lost a game all summer. But then the Bend Elks went to work as Curtis Wildung and Chase Fields had back to back singles to load the bases with 2 outs, Seth Spivey was hit by a pitch to tie the game at 3. Following Spivey was Dixon, who hit a 2-1 pitch into right center field to score all 3 men on base with the bases clearing double, making it 6-3 Elks. Tyler Servais followed with an RBI single to score Dixon from second, and Turner Gill came up after Cullen O'Dwyer singled with a double of his own, his 2nd time at the plate in the inning, to score Tyler and give Bend the 8-3 margin of victory.
The Bend Elks go into the West Coast League All-Star Break 23-14, 1st place in the WCL south, and will be in non-league action Tuesday against the Thurston County Senators, first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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West Coast League Stories from July 21, 2013
- Rogues Win Sixth Straight, Move into Third - Medford Rogues
- 6 Run 9th gives Elks 3 game sweep over Cowlitz Black Bears - Bend Elks
- Late Rogue Run in 7th Inning Sinks Gems, 3-2 - Klamath Falls Gems
- Bells Use 8th Inning Rally to Knock off Walla - Bellingham Bells
- Kelowna Falcons Win Saturday Night - Kelowna Falcons
- Bells Out-Last Sweets in Saturday - Walla Walla Sweets
- Taylor Elman throws 5 scoreless innings, Seth Spivey with 2 run home run as Elks defeat Black Bears - Bend Elks
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