KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — For the first time this season, Walla Walla is walked off the field, losing to the Kamloops NorthPaws 3-2. The loss evens up the series at one game apiece.

Kamloops opened the scoring in the third taking a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Sweets brought home their two runs of the game. Hayden Driggs opened the frame with a double to centerfield and moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. In the next at bat, Kennedy Hara brought him home with an RBI single.

A sac bunt from Stevie Hom moved Hara into scoring position. In the next at bat, a wild pitch bounced away from Kamloops catcher Jerry Nix and rolled into the Kamloops dugout, allowing Hara to move up two bases and score.

On the mound Heitaro Hayashi made his fifth start of the season, and it was his best one yet. Outside of the lone run allowed in the third, Hayashi shut down the NorthPaws, getting two 1-2-3 innings. Hayashi tossed a season-high six innings and struck out a career-high seven batters.

In the seventh, Kamloops tied the game at two off three singles.

The game entered the ninth tied at two, and the Sweets got a break with Logan Meyer reaching base on an error by the Kamloops shortstop. It was the only error committed between the two teams. However, he was left stranded on first after three straight outs.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kamloops got the inning started with a leadoff walk, then got two on in scoring position with a double. Walla Walla decided to intentionally walk to load the bases, getting the force out at the plate, but Joey Rico slapped a single to left center to bring home the winning run.

While it is the first time the Sweets have been walked off this season, it is their sixth loss by just one run.

With the loss, the Sweets fall to 9-16 on the year. The series is now evened up 1-1. Sunday is the deciding rubber match with the Sweets looking for their second series win of the season. First pitch is set for 2:05. Sweets’ coverage of the game can be found on Mixlr.com.