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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Sweets Hang On to Tie Series

July 5, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wa. - Beneath unusually cloudy skies on a Fourth of July afternoon, the Walla Walla Sweets went on a quest to even their series against the Yakima Valley Pippins.

And they did just that, beating the Pippins 3-1 in a closely contested game Friday at Borleske Stadium.

Jordan Frabasilio led off the bottom of the second inning with a single off Yakima Valley starter Beau Kerns, and Kevin Morgan followed with a two-run homer to right-field, his first longball of the season.

"I was just looking for something in the zone I could drive," Morgan said of his first home run. "I've been hitting the ball hard lately with not so much success, so I was just looking to drive something up in the zone to see where it landed."

The Pippins came within one run in the top of the third, when Ryan Yamane hit a one-out single and scored on a groundout by Shawn Wardian.

Looking for insurance in the bottom of the third, Walla Walla's Jarod Gonzales led off with a walk, ending up on third after singles by Andrew Mendenhall and Morgan. While facing Renae Martinez, Kerns uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Gonzales.

That would conclude both teams' scoring for the afternoon, as Walla Walla starter Conner O'Neil (3-2) pitched effectively through seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out six, earning the win.

Things became tense in the top of the ninth inning, however, as left-hander Garrett Barker made his Sweets debut, allowing a single and two walks to load the bases with none out. But the home club was able to work out of the jam, getting a popout, a strikeout and a groundout to end the game, giving the Sweets their first win of the series.

Also of note was the Pippins bullpen, as Kelly Fitpatrick and Connor Lau combined for two innings of perfect relief of Beau Kerns (2-1), who was solid in his own right, allowing the Sweets just three runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking only one.

Offensively, Kevin Morgan led the way for the Sweets by going 2-for-2 with two RBI. While only managing five hits, the Sweets made each hit count.

The Sweets and Pippins will play the deciding game of the series Saturday at Borleske Stadium at 7:05 PM.



West Coast League Stories from July 5, 2014


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