COWLITZ, Wash. — Walla Walla lost the series finale to the Cowlitz Black Bears 5-3 Sunday afternoon. The loss completes the sweep, making it the third sweep of the Sweets this season.

The Sweets started the afternoon off hot scoring three runs in the top of the first. David Mysza got the action started with his fourth double of the season. Stevie Hom put runners on the corners on a ground ball back to the pitcher, who tried to throw Mysza out at third, but the UCLA freshman was able to slide in safely.

With two runners on, Cort MacDonald knocked his fourth double of the year as well to bring Mysza home. Hom moved up to third putting two runners in scoring position. Joey Winters then brought both of them home on a two-RBI single to right field.

The Sweets were riding high after scoring three runs in the first frame. However, that is all they would get in the game. Walla Walla was held scoreless over the next eight innings and only collected two more hits.

Cowlitz got one run back in the third to make it 3-1. In the fourth, Cowlitz had the bases loaded with two outs, and came through with a bases clearing double to take a 4-3 lead. The batter who knocked the two-bagger was tagged out trying to stretch it into a triple.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cowlitz added an insurance run to extend their lead.

In the top of the ninth, the Sweets got their best chance at tying the game. Three of the first four batters all drew walks from the Cowlitz pitcher to load the bases. Much like the Black Bears in the fourth inning, the Sweets had the bases loaded, and had two outs play with, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the game.

It is the third time this season the Sweets have lost a game in which they led by three runs.

With the loss, the Sweets fall to 2-11 in the second half and are 11-28 overall. Walla Walla gets an off day on Monday before returning to Borleske Field for the first time since their final game before the All-Star break on July 14.

Tuesday begins round two of the Battle of the Basin between the Walla Walla Sweets and the Yakima Valley Pippins. In the first series between these two teams, Yakima Valley took two of three. The first two games between the two were close, entertaining ball games, with each team winning one by one run.

The last two seasons, Walla Walla and Yakima Valley have split the Battle of the Basin, three games apiece. Last year, the Battle ended in dramatic fashion with the Sweets scoring seven runs in the ninth inning of the final game to win 11-10 and split the series. Heading into game four down 2-1, the Sweets will hope for similar heroics this year, and maybe even get a sweep to win the series.

First pitch is set for 6:35 and Sweets’ coverage of the game can be found on their YouTube channel.