KELOWNA, B.C. (June 9, 2026) – After a long travel day north of the border, the Walla Walla Sweets opened their six-game Canadian road trip Tuesday night with an 11-1 loss to the Kelowna Falcons at Elks Stadium.

The final score got away late, but Walla Walla still had a few good things to take from the series opener, including a strong start from Perry Stow, another multi-hit night from Mateo Rickman and Austin Owens keeping his on-base streak alive.

Stow gave the Sweets a real chance early, working through the first four innings without allowing a run. The right-hander kept Kelowna off the board into the fifth and finished with 4.2 innings, allowing two runs while striking out four.

Walla Walla had chances to chip away, especially with traffic on the bases throughout the night. The Sweets drew six walks, and Rickman helped pace the lineup with a 2-for-5 game. Gunner Geile also added one of the louder swings of the night, driving a double out toward the center-field wall.

Kelowna broke through with two runs in the fifth before adding on in the sixth and late innings to stretch the lead.

The Sweets got on the board in the eighth. Rickman reached base and later came around to score when Owens drew a bases-loaded walk, extending his on-base streak to nine games to start the summer.

Gaines Haussin reached twice with a hit and a walk, while Troy Osborne and Logan Nakamura each added hits of their own. Geile finished with a double and a walk, giving Walla Walla another quality night of traffic even as the big inning never fully came together.

Out of the bullpen, Owen Godinez made his Sweets debut and struck out two in his inning of work.

The loss snapped Walla Walla’s strong run coming out of the first homestand, but the Sweets still enter the rest of the road trip having won five of their last seven games and sitting near the top of the WCL South Division early in the season.

The Sweets continue the series Wednesday, June 10, against the Kelowna Falcons. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Elks Stadium.