YAKIMA, Wash. — In game two of the Battle of the Basin, the Walla Walla Sweets dropped a high-scoring contest 13-5 to the Yakima Valley Pippins, subsequently losing the series.

A day removed from managing just one run at the Orchard, the Sweets showed more offensive life out of the gate. Center fielder Cole Rogers sparked the action early, wearing a fastball off the helmet to reach base. Rogers exited the game but later returned in the top of the second. Shortstop Landon Young followed up with an RBI single to get the Sweets on the board, and Walla Walla took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first.

In the home half of the inning, Gage Reeser reached for the Pippins on an error with one out. What followed was a pickoff attempt from Sweets starting pitcher Alex Jennings that caught Reeser in a rundown between first and second. During the play, Young collided with Reeser, resulting in an interference call. Head coach Colby Watilo disputed the ruling, but it stood, allowing Reeser to advance to second. Another error extended the inning, and two runs came across for the Pippins.

The Sweets responded in the top of the third as designated hitter Tanner Kern doubled home Young to even the score.

In the fourth, the Sweets regained the lead. Second baseman Nigel Fahland singled with two outs and later came around to score following a pair of throwing errors by Yakima Valley.

But the Pippins answered back quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Catcher Max Senesac led off with a home run to tie the game. Kyler Bittner followed by reaching base, stealing two bags, and scoring on a passed ball. Yakima Valley tacked on another run before the inning closed, reclaiming the lead at 5-3.

Jennings’ night ended after three and one-third innings. He allowed three earned runs and struck out two.

In the top of the fifth, Kern doubled again and scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Caleb Richter, trimming the deficit to 5-4.

However, the Pippins continued to apply pressure as the game wore on. Trenton Rowan launched a two-run home run in the sixth to widen the gap, and the Pippins broke things open in the eighth with a five-run inning. They sent ten batters to the plate and recorded five hits in the frame.

Yakima Valley closed out the game with a 13-5 win. It marked the Sweets’ third consecutive loss, dropping them to 2-3 on the young season.

Walla Walla will look to salvage the series in game three, scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at Yakima County Stadium. The game will be available live on the Walla Walla Sweets Mixlr.