It’s been a series that can be described in one word. Pitching. Walla Walla allowed just two runs on Friday and yesterday gave up just one allowing one base hit. In today’s ballgame the Sweets went right back at it from the hill. 

The Pippins got on the board first in the second inning. Ethan Buckley led off the inning with a walk. After a flyout to center by Neil Jansen for the first out, Buckley advanced to second on a catcher’s error. Jack Varney followed with a triple to drive in Buckley for the Pippins’ first run. Ethan Hogan struck out for the second out, and Langan Naylor was retired on strikes to end the inning.

In the third the Pippins added on. After participating in the home run derby yesterday and making the finals Julian Angulo took one out to left for his first homer of the season. After three innings the Pippins led 2-0. 

In the bottom of the fifth the Sweets finally started to get the bats going against Pippins starting pitcher Ty Pangborn. Owen Estabrook drew a leadoff walk, but Billy Scaldeferri flied out to center for the first out. Trevor Tse worked a walk to put runners at first and second, and after an infield popup by Troy Sanders for the second out, Andrew Demianew walked to load the bases. Hunter Komine followed with a bases-loaded walk to bring home Estabrook. Gunner Geile ended the inning with a flyout to center and left the pillows packed with the Sweets down 2-1.

After five innings both starting pitchers were out of the ballgame. Peysen Sweeney finished his day through four innings allowing two runs with five strikeouts. On the other side Pangborn finished allowing just one run in five frames. 

In the sixth inning the Sweets kept the pedal to the metal.Landon Young was hit by a pitch to open the inning and advanced to third on a double by Dominic Cadiz. Owen Estabrook followed with a single to left, driving in both Young and Cadiz. After a pitching change, Billy Scaldeferri was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Trevor Tse popped out to first for the first out, and Troy Sanders struck out swinging. Andrew Demianew was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, but Hunter Komine ended the inning with a popout to first, however the Sweets took the lead 3-2. 

Sweets relief pitcher Kolby Solomon held the lead through the seventh and the eighth with a strikeout. Then in the bottom of the eighth the SWeets grabbed an insurance run. Andrew Demianew came through with a single to left, bringing home Scaldeferri and advancing Sanders.

Then in the ninth with the Sweets on top 4-2 Trevor Stowe came in for the second straight night to close out the game. With a runner on first and one out Sanders snared a ball out of the sky and doubled up the runner at first to win the battle of the Basin.

The Sweets have a rest day tomorrow before travelling to Cowlitz for a three game set. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, with coverage beginning at 6:15 on the Walla Walla Sweets Mixlr channel.