Opening up the contest the Sweets came into the day with momentum on their side. Back to back wins including a walkoff in the series opener and a victory over Portland had the Sweets feeling good heading into game two against the Black Bears. 

In the bottom of the first the Sweets scratched the scoreboard first. Left fielder Trevor Tse worked a walk to open the inning and promptly stole second base. Second baseman Jacob Talbot followed and grounded out to short, moving Tse to third. Dominic Cadiz then cashed in the runner in scoring position, ripping a double to left-center to bring home Tse for the game’s first run. 

Through two innings the score stayed put at 1-0 Sweets but in the top of the third the Black Bears decided to turn up the burners. With a runner on base Sam Davidson singled, and on an error by shortstop Landon Young, advanced all the way to third as Nelson came around to score. Finnegan Stewart then drove in Davidson with an RBI single to give the Black Bears a 2-1 lead. Sweets starting pitcher Dawson Mooney finished his day allowing two runs and our strikeouts through three innings pitched.

In the bottom of the fifth the Sweets finally leveled the score. After a pitching change brought in Ryan Falke, Jacob Talbot followed with an infield single to third, and Dominic Cadiz kept the rally going with a double to left, moving Talbot to the corner. Landon Young then grounded out to second, bringing home Talbot to tie the game. Cadiz advanced to third on the play, but the Sweets couldn’t add more as Billy Scaldeferri popped out to first to end the inning.

Nothing could separate the two squads through eight innings but in the top of the ninth the dam finally broke. Alex Figueroa took over on the mound and quickly recorded the first out on a grounder to first by Josh Hanson. Up until this point Figueroa has not allowed a run all season. However with one gone Paxton Bigby singled, and after a hit-by-pitch to Tyler Nelson, Cowlitz had two aboard. Will Jesske came in to run for Bigby, and Sam Davidson singled to load the bases. Finnegan Stewart then hit a fielder’s choice, scoring Jesske and moving Nelson to third as Davidson was retired for the second out. A passed ball allowed Nelson to score and then Gavin Poffenroth delivered with a double to left-center, bringing home Stewart.

In the bottom of the ninth a few pieces of hard contact could not find green grass and the Sweets’ undefeated record at home ended with a 5-2 loss.

Walla Walla looks to win its second home series tomorrow night against the Black Bears in the rubber match. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. The video broadcast will be available on the Walla Walla Sweets YouTube channel.