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WCL Kelowna Falcons

Falcons Fall in Series Finale to Conclude First Half Schedule

July 8, 2019 - West Coast League (WCL)
Kelowna Falcons News Release


KELOWNA, B.C. - The Kelowna Falcons couldn't find a way to close their first half with a win, falling to the Walla Walla Sweets by a 6-3 score on Sunday evening in the series finale of a three-game set at Elks Stadium.

For the second straight game, the Sweets were first to hit the scoresheet and came in the way of a 2nd inning that saw Walla Walla bring seven batters to the plate and compile two runs to take an early lead in the series finale.

Four hits in the inning saw an RBI single from Michael Petrie included in that, bringing home Brock Ephan from second base and a 1-0 lead for the Sweets before Connor Cirillo brought home another run a batter later with a single into left center field to push the visitors ahead by a 2-0 tally.

The Falcons chipped away at the deficit as they got in the scoreboard in the bottom half of the 2nd frame, loading the bases with no one out. After Brandon Hupe popped out into foul ground, Ezra Samperi hustled out a play on the infield to avoid the double play and collect his 5th RBI of the season to cut the lead to 2-1 into the 3rd frame.

The Sweets offence came back in the 4th inning to do similar damage, bringing in a pair of runs with another single off the bat of Petrie, bringing in his second run of the game before Cirillo did the same with a sacrifice fly to left field and push the Sweets lead to 4-1 into the bottom of the 4th frame.

Kelowna answered back, as they did in the second frame, with Marvcus Guarin and Conagher Sands each reaching base for the second time. Guarin was brought home on a Brandon Hupe ground out to shortstop that was good for his 6th RBI of the season and cut the Walla Walla lead to 4-2.

Justin Folz stood in to lead off the 5th inning of play and ripped a solo home run over the wall in left center field to extend the Sweets lead to 5-2 with the game into each of the teams bullpens after starters Nick Nygard and Nick Dahle finished their outings after 3+ innings.

Kelowna had two terrific chances to get some runs back in the game, leaving runners on the corners in the 7th inning before holding a pair of runners on in the 8th as their attempt to cut the lead of the Sweets fell short before Walla Walla added to their lead in the 9th inning.

Caleb Farmer slacked a double down the right field line that plated Cirillo from second base and pushed Walla Walla ahead by a 6-2 score but the Falcons responded in the 9th and put a valiant effort up in the final half of the game.

Three straight singles to begin the bottom of the 9th inning saw Austen Butler pick up an RBI, driving in Samperi from second for his 9th RBI of the season to make it a 6-3 game but that's as close as the Falcons would come, falling by three runs to the Sweets in the series finale.

The Falcons (10-16) will begin the second half of their season schedule on Wednesday, July 10th with start of a six-game road trip taking place against the Cowlitz Black Bears (10-17) at Story Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM for the start of a three-game series.



West Coast League Stories from July 8, 2019


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