WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Twice the Sweets came from behind against the Port Angeles Lefties Wednesday night, but rallies in the final three frames could not come through as the Sweets lost 6-5. Walla Walla had multiple runners in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth but could not find the big hit to extend the game.

Josh Aribal looked really good on the mound in his second start for the Sweets this season. The righty from Hawaii tossed the first four innings and struck out eight batters, a season high for any Sweets pitcher. He allowed one unearned run in the second inning off a couple of errors, which put the Lefties up 1-0.

Sweets took a 3-1 lead in the fifth, with Logan Meyer bringing home a run with an RBI groundout and Davis Mauzy bringing in the other two with a single to center field.

The good times did not last long as in the next half inning, Port Angeles sent 10 batters to the plate and brought home four runs to take a 5-3 lead. Three of the four runs scored on RBI walks with the bases loaded.

The Sweets came back again, this time with two runs to tie the game at five. Easton O’Neal, in his first game with the Sweets, launched the second triple of the season for Walla Walla, bringing home Mason Millar to make it a one run game. O’Neal was brought home on the next at bat on an RBI single from Brooks Rasmussen.

Port Angeles scored the winning run in the top of the seventh, again off an RBI walk. The Sweets walked a total of eight batters in the game, tied for the second most this season.

In the ninth, the Sweets had their best chance to tie and even win the game. Meyer started off the frame with a stand-up double to right field. After a ground out moved him to third, he was tagged out at the plate on a ground ball to the short stop.

The Sweets kept fighting though with two outs. Mauzy got aboard on the fielder’s choice and Stevie Hom rushed to first on a dropped third strike that kept the inning going. Walla Walla reached into the dugout and pulled out Kolby Felix who had reached base safely in the first eight games to start the season. Felix worked a 2-1 count and flied the ball up but right at the left fielder to end the game.

With the loss, the Sweets fall to 2-8 on the year and lose their fourth straight series to start the season. The will play one more game against the Lefties to round out the interdivisional series. The seven-game homestand then comes to an end Friday with one game against the non-league Redmond Dudes.