Elks Drop 4th Straight, Lose to Walla Walla 6-3
Published on August 10, 2013 under West Coast League (WCL)
Bend Elks News Release
Bend, OR - The Bend Elks remained 1 win away from clinching a playoff birth after Friday's game, falling to the Walla Walla Sweets 5-2.
The Sweets (29-22) jumped out to a big early, starting in the 2nd inning, off of Elks starter Clay Gartner (5-3). Jared Gonzales reached on an error by right fielder Turner Gill to open up the 2nd, Dominic Moroglio followed with an RBI double, and after Kris Paulino singled, Spencer O'Neil's RBI double made it 2-0 Walla Walla.
The Sweets added on in the 3rd, as Matt Mendenhall and Jake Wylie had back to back singles to open up the frame, and after Jarod Gonzales was hit by a pitch, an RBI single from Moroglio and a 2 run single from Paulino, and Walla Walla lead 5-0 through 3 innings.
Bend (30-22) finally countered in the bottom of the 6th inning off of Sweets starter Cody Poteet (3-2). Kyle Giusti, Zach Close, and Chase Fields opened up the frame with 3 straight singles, and with Grant Newton at the plate, Giusti came home on a wild pitch and then Grant Newton delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3, as Bend trailed 5-2.
The Sweets would take one back in the 9th inning as there were men on the corners with 1 away, Walla Walla executed a textbook hit-and-run. with Luke Persico stealing 2nd and Elks 2nd baseman Giusti going to cover, Jared Gonzales put a groundball right where Giusti would have been, but instead it turned into an RBI single and gave the Sweets the insurance run heading into the bottom of the 9th.
In the Elks half of the 9th, Turner Gill opened up the inning with a single, and Justin Erlandson came on as a pinch runner. On Derek Dixon's single, his 3rd hit of the ballgame, Erlandson advanced to 3rd, and Tyler Servais hit a blast at Sweets shortstop Nick Vilter, who couldn't handle the ball, as all men were safe, and Erlandson scored, making it 6-3. But Sweets closer Sean-Luke Brija, the former Bend Elk, took care of business after that, striking out Cullen O'Dwyer, inducing a flyout from Giusti, and getting Zach Close looking to end the ballgame.
The Elks will make another attempt at securing a playoff spot and try to snap their 4 game losing streak in game 2 of the 3 game series against Walla Walla, first pitch at 6:35.
West Coast League Stories from August 10, 2013
- Sweets Take Game One from Bend 6-3 - Walla Walla Sweets
- Hager's complete game and Bells five home runs takes Bellingham to victory - Bellingham Bells
- Kelowna Falcons Beat Wenatchee - Kelowna Falcons
- Knights Trump Gems In First Game of Series, Win 7-6 - Klamath Falls Gems
- Elks Drop 4th Straight, Lose to Walla Walla 6-3 - Bend Elks
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