WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Sweets sent the Pickles home on a sour note, winning the final game of their five-game super series to start the 2024 season. Walla Walla pitching and defense kept the hot bats of Portland in check while some timely hitting at the plate led to the 4-2 win. It is the home win of the season for the Sweets.

Both teams struck in the first inning with the Sweets getting a 2-1 edge. Portland scored their run with a sacrifice fly after the first two batters got on. Walla Walla answered with a two-RBI single from Kolby Felix, scoring Davis Mauzy and David Mysza. The single extends Felix’s on base streak to all eight games, which is tied for the longest streak in South Division.

After the first two batters got on in the first inning, starter Liam Hohenstein shut it down on the mound, retiring the next nine batters in order. He ended his second start of the season with a solid stat line of five innings pitched, one run off three hits and three strikeouts.

In the seventh inning, Portland tied it up with an RBI single.

However, the tie would barely make it past the seventh inning stretch. With one out, Kennedy Hara reached on an error and Mauzy put two on with his second hit of the game. After a Portland pitching change, a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position. David Mysza then lined a ball off the mound, hitting an infield single and bringing home Hara. Pickles short stop Shunsuke Sakiano fielded the ball off the mound and overthrew first base, allowing Mysza to reach second and Mauzy to come in and score, putting the Sweets up 4-2. Just like in the first inning, Walla Walla responded to one run from the Pickles with two of their own.

In the eighth and ninth inning, Walla Walla High School graduate Hunter Polley shut down the Pickles preserving the win for the Sweets. In his first appearance of the season, Polley struck out three batters earning the second save of the season.

Landon Salvesen tossed in between Hohenstein and Polley and was credited with the win having tossed in the seventh inning in which the Sweets took the lead.

With the win, the Sweets improve to 2-6 and get their first win at home. The Sweets were wearing their blue onion caps during the win, the very same hats they wore when they beat the Bend Elks June 2.

The Sweets get an off day before returning back to Borleske Stadium for a home series with the Port Angeles Lefties. It is the first time the Sweets have played the Lefties since 2022 and the first time at Borleske since 2021. Tuesday’s series opener will also be the first of a 13-game stretch for the Sweets, whose next off day after Monday isn’t until June 24.

First pitch for Tuesday is set for 6:35 p.m. It is a Del Taco Tuesday with $1 burritos while supplies last.