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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Untimely Hitting Drops Sweets

July 14, 2011 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


Walla Walla-- Despite recording 13 hits and putting two runners on in each of the final four innings, the Walla Walla Sweets could not muster enough offense, stranding 13 in a 5-2 loss to the Bellingham Bells on Wednesday at Borleske Stadium.

A struggle all season for the Sweets, hitting in clutch situations victimized them again tonight. Walla Walla left five on base over the first three innings and then left seven on over the final four innings. Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, the Sweets loaded the bases with one out but only managed one run on a Kalani Brackenridge fielder's choice ground ball. After Bellingham scored three in the seventh, the Sweets got two runners on with one out in their half but two straight strikeouts left the 1,745 fans wanting more.

The Sweets continued to press in the eighth as Scott Gottschling doubled to start the inning and moved to third on Kevin Williams' single. Tyler Spear rebounded to strike out the next batter and got a 4-3 double play ball to end the inning without allowing a run. And to cap it off, the Sweets got back-to-back one-out singles from Alex Stanford and Zach Wentz in the ninth and a Chance Kopacz RBI single but left runners on the corners to end the game.

Bellingham, on the other hand, made the most of their opportunities. Stymied by Sweets starter Aaron Hoverson over the first five innings, the Bells got a break to start the sixth. Kai Hatch's ground ball to second skipped under the glove of Stanford and two pitches later Derek Atkinson tripled to right-center scoring Hatch all the way from first. Hoverson got two straight ground outs to keep Atkinson at third but Michael Aquino knocked a 1-2 pitch down the line in left to make it 2-0.

After the Sweets cut their lead in half, the Bells immediately responded. Eric Lane and Hatch started the seventh with singles before Bellingham got their second break of the night. Ben Grubb's high fly ball to left field was lost in the lights by Gottschling in left, loading the bases. With reliever Tyler Billen working from the full windup, Lane broke from third, avoided the tag of Stewart and then dove back to the plate just ahead of the tag making it 3-1. The daring steal of home was accompanied by the two other runners advancing and they eventually scored as Pat Gallagher knocked a single threw a drawn-in infield.

Under pressure in every inning, the Bellingham bullpen did their job and closed the game out. Carsen Nylund worked out the bases loaded jam in the sixth and then struck out the final two in the seventh to end his night. Spear worked out of his eighth inning mess and Ryan Deeter was able to close the door in the ninth.

Making his second start in a week against the Sweets, the Bells got a solid outing from starter Richie Ochoa. He went five scoreless and struck out three and has thrown 11 shutout innings over his last two starts against Walla Walla. Despite taking the loss, Hoverson pitched well, allowing two unearned runs and striking out five over six innings. Geoff Soja and Sean Santschi each pitched a scoreless inning, with Santschi striking out the side in the ninth.

Each team collected 13 hits on the night and the Sweets offense was led by Stanford's four hits. Wentz, Kopacz and Gottschling all had two hits and all but two Sweets had a hit on the night. One that did not was Andrew Mendenhall. He went 0-5 and saw his 13-game hit streak come to an end. Five different players had two hits for the Bells, including each of the first four hitters in their lineup.

The win pushes Bellingham's lead to three games over the Sweets for the final playoff spot in the East Division. The two teams continue their three-game series on Thursday night with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Kyle Anderson will get the ball on Thirsty Thursday. Select domestic drafts and 20 oz. sodas will be $1 up until the first pitch of the fifth inning.

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