Coming into the contest, the Pickles were riding an 11-game winning streak to open the season. On the other side, the Sweets had dropped two straight and were looking to steal game three in Portland.

Both starting pitchers tossed a scoreless first inning. In the top of the second, the Sweets struck first off the bat of Dominic Cadiz. The incoming freshman smoked a ball toward left field and rounded the bases for his second home run of the year.

However, in the bottom of the frame, the Pickles didn’t let the lead last long. A one-out single from Joey Wright started the rally, and Jordan Lewis followed with a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. A wild pitch advanced both runners before Kyle McDaniel singled to left, bringing home Wright for Portland’s first run of the night. McDaniel finished the game 3-for-3 with a walk.

In the third, the Sweets answered right back. Landon Young singled to put two aboard and knocked out Pickles starting pitcher Billy Gregory after recording just four outs. Cadiz kept the inning alive with a base hit to right, scoring Sanders for his second RBI of the game. After a scoreless bottom of the third, the Sweets entered the fourth with their first lead entering the top half of an inning all series.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Pickles got back on track. Petey Soto Jr. singled, and Lewis drew a walk to put two on. McDaniel then made the Sweets pay with a double into the gap, scoring both Soto and Lewis to regain the Pickles’ lead. Starting pitcher Levi Anderson left the game after 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with one strikeout.

After a scoreless top of the sixth, the Sweets retook the lead. Catcher Owen Estabrook singled with one out, and right fielder Andrew Demianew followed with a walk. Designated hitter Zane Bidwell kept the line moving with a base hit to load the bases. After a strikeout, Troy Sanders battled with two strikes and came through with a single to left, bringing home Estabrook and Demianew. Sanders finished the night 3-for-4 with a walk. Heading into the home half, the Sweets led 4-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, reliever Alex Figueroa faced his toughest test of the day with the bases loaded and two outs. With the lead on the line, Figueroa struck out Brett Williams to end the threat. Figueroa finished his outing with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was much of the same for the Sweets. Trevor Stowe took over on the mound and immediately recorded the first two outs. After a pair of hit batters and a walk, the bases were loaded for the Pickles with two outs. But once again, when push came to shove, the Sweets pitching got it done as Lewis struck out to leave them loaded.

In the top of the ninth, Young brought Talbott home on a sacrifice fly to left to extend the lead to 5-3. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Sweets were three outs away from ending the Pickles’ winning streak.

With one out and two on, Kolby Solomon was brought in to close it out. After a ground ball retired Soto Jr., Solomon was one out away. With two outs and two on, Lewis sent a ball high toward left field. At the track, Billy Scaldeferri reached up and took one away to save the game and seal the Sweets’ win. In total, the Pickles left 16 runners on base.

The Sweets look to win their second straight and keep their perfect home record alive Friday night against the Cowlitz Black Bears. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. The video broadcast will be available on the Walla Walla Sweets YouTube channel and the radio call on Mixlr.