WCL Bend Elks

Bend Elks use 4 run 8th inning to defeat Cowlitz Black Bears 10-6

Published on August 2, 2013 under West Coast League (WCL)
Bend Elks News Release


Bend fell behind 5-0 heading into the bottom of the 5th before the bats came alive, as the Bend Elks used 2 big innings, scoring 5 runs in the 5th and 4 in the 8th, to take 2 of 3 from the Cowlitz Black Bears, defeating Cowlitz 10-6.

Cowlitz (21-24) jumped out to an early lead as Ryan Littlefield and Paul Martinez reached to open up the top of the 2nd inning, and came around to score on an RBI single from Slate Miller and a sacrifice bunt from Black Bears catcher Jonathan Reese gave Cowlitz the early 2-0 lead.

The Black Bears would extend that lead in the top of the 3rd as Devyn Bolasky, Littlefield, and Martinez came through with 3 consecutive base hits against Elks starter Martin Brown, the hit from Martinez, a 2 run single, gave Cowlitz a 4 run lead. The Black Bears would tack on another run in the top of the 4th inning with the solo home run from Jonathan Reese, and Cowlitz lead 5-0.

The Bend Elks (28-18) bats finally came alive in the bottom of the 5th inning, as Kyle Giusti and Landon Cray had back to back home-runs to open up the inning against Black Bears starter Dominic Mazza, and the Elks trailed 5-2. Zach Close then singled, and Keach Ballard walked to chase Mazza from the game. In came Kody Watts, who got Seth Spivey to bounce into a fielder's choice and Turner Gill to pop out to 3rd baseman Paul Martinez to put men on the corners with 2 out. But Derek Dixon came through with an RBI single and Cullen O'Dwyer's 2 run double brought home Spivey and Dixon, and the Elks tied the game at 5.

Cowlitz responded right back, as Austin Grebeck drew a walk, stole 2nd, and advanced to 3rd base on a throwing error from Elks catcher Grant Newton, then came around to score in a mis-executed rundown by the Elks defense, came around to score and gave Cowlitz the 6-5 lead.

Bend would not go away, as they came to the plate in the 7th inning, Spivey and Turner Gill had back to back singles to put men on the corners with nobody out. Derek Dixon came to the plate and hit a spinning groundball to Cowlitz 3rdbaseman Paul Martinez, who could not handle it, and Spivey came into score and tie the game at 6.

Then for the 2nd time in as many days, the Elks broke through in the bottom of the 8th inning with 1 out, as Zach Close walked, Ballard singled, Spivey walked, Curtis Wildung came to the plate with bases loaded and 1 away facing Stuart Fewel (0-2). Stuart fired in a fastball that was nowhere near the zone that brought home Close on the wild pitch, then Wildung delivered a double into right center field to clear the bases, and Bend expanded their lead to 9-6. It would be 10-6 by the time the Elks were done as Cullen O'Dwyer would deliver a sacrifice fly to score Dixon and give the Elks a 4 run advantage.

Cowlitz would not go down with a fight, as Derrick Salberg and Corey Van Domlen singled to open up the inning and after Bolasky hit an infield fly for out number one, Ryan Littlefield drew a walk to load the bases against Tanner Ring. In came David Murrillo, and the Lewis-Clark State pitcher came in and got Paul Martinez and Austin Grebeck to fly out to left and right field respectively, to end the ball game, picking up his 2nd save of the summer.

The Elks head to Bellingham, WA to begin a 3 game series with the Bells on Friday, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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West Coast League Stories from August 2, 2013


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