The Sweets entered the night hoping to bounce back from a 6-1 series-opening loss, and they wasted no time getting started. Trevor Tse led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left field, his third of the season. With a runner on second, Tanner Kern followed with a double off the left-field wall to drive in another, giving the Sweets an early 2-0 lead — already doubling their run total from the night before.

The NorthPaws responded in the top of the second. Keegan Drinkle ripped a triple to right field and Joey Marino brought him home with an RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1.

Kamloops took the lead in the third inning. Tanner Hornback singled to right and advanced to third on a double by Joey Rico. Brendan Burke followed with a sacrifice fly to score Hornback and even the game at 2-2.

Walla Walla punched right back in the home half. Landon Young and Kern drew back-to-back walks before Nate Stiveson lined a single to left for his first hit as a Sweet, giving Walla Walla a 3-2 lead.

In the fourth, the NorthPaws tied it again. Drinkle reached on a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a flyout, Cade Palkowski singled to put runners at the corners. Ethan Kodama lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Drinkle and make it 3-3. Following a pitching change, Palkowski stole second and advanced to third on a single by Hornback. Drew Schmidt drew a walk to load the bases, but a caught stealing at third ended the threat.

The Sweets answered again in the bottom half. Dominic Cadiz singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Landon Young followed with a base hit to center, bringing home Cadiz to tie the game 4-4.

Both offenses fell quiet until the ninth. In the top half, Sweets reliever Trevor Stowe held Kamloops scoreless, striking out one and sending the game to the bottom of the ninth.

Billy Scaldeferri led off with a single to shortstop and moved to second after a strikeout. Nate Stiveson was intentionally walked, and Nikhil Beasley laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. That brought up Johnny Backus, who delivered a walk-off single to left field, scoring Scaldeferri for the win.

With the victory, the Sweets forced a rubber match set for 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at Borleske Stadium. The game will be streamed live on the Walla Walla Sweets YouTube channel.