CORVALLIS, Ore. — That third consecutive win continues to elude the Sweets as Walla Walla fell to the Corvallis Knights 9-1 Tuesday night. The Sweets got nine hits throughout the game but left 10 runners on base as they had trouble bringing them home.

After being shutout for the first time in Goss Stadium, Corvallis jumped on the Sweets early and often. The Knights scored five runs in the second, two runs in the third and one in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead.

The Sweets had their best chance to tie the game in the fifth. After two quick outs, Stevie Hom got aboard with a single. It was the second of his three hits in the game. Three hits ties a season high for the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islander and was his 13^th multi-hit game of the season.

With Hom aboard and extending the inning, Cort MacDonald and Kolby Felix drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. The situation was eerily similar to the fourth inning of the series opener on Monday, when Felix hit a two-out single and Joey Winters and Logan Meyer drew walks to load the bases. On Monday, JJ Moran and Mason Millar both got two-RBI base hits to bring home four runs for the Sweets. On Tuesday however, Corvallis went to the bullpen and pulled out a fresh arm to get a strikeout and end the inning. Walla Walla left three runners on base and was the only time they would have the bases loaded.

Corvallis added another run in the seventh off a solo home run that clanged off the foul pole in left field.

The Sweets scored their lone run in the eighth. Meyer smashed a ball to the alley in right center field and was able to work a triple out of the big hit. It was the 19^th triple of the year for the Sweets, which leads the West Coast League and is the most triples the Sweets have hit in franchise history. He was brought home off a sacrifice fly from Moran.

The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Sweets. Walla Walla has had four win streaks of two games this season, but has yet to get win three straight games in 2024.

The loss also drops the Sweets to 7-14 in second half and 16-31 overall. Walla Walla needs to go 4-3 in their final seven games to match their win total in 2023, and 5-2 or better to improve on last season.

The series with the Knights is now even at one game apiece. Wednesday’s game is now a rubber match between Walla Walla and Corvallis. If the Sweets win, it will be their third straight series victory and two series victories over the first place Corvallis Knights this season. Wednesday is also the final road game of the season for the Walla Walla Sweets in 2024. After the game, the Sweets return home to play their final six games at Borleske Stadium.

First pitch of the rubber match between the Sweets and the Knights is set for 6:35 and Sweets’ coverage of the game can be found on Mixlr.com.