BEND, Ore. (July 1, 2026) – Walla Walla made one final push in the ninth inning Wednesday night, bringing the tying run to the plate before falling just short in Bend.

Troy Osborne delivered a two-run single in the final frame, Payton Knowles made an immediate impact in his return to the lineup and the Sweets battled back from an early deficit in a 6-5 loss to the Bend Elks at Vince Genna Stadium.

The result evened the series at one game apiece and set up a rubber match Thursday night.

Bend scored once in the first inning and added three more in the third to build an early 4-0 advantage, but Walla Walla began cutting into the deficit in the fifth.

Cole Rogers reached to start the rally, and Knowles drove him home with a triple into center field. It was the Sweets’ first extra-base hit of the game and came in Knowles’ first appearance after missing the previous week.

Trevor Tse followed with an RBI single to center, bringing Knowles home and trimming the deficit to 4-2.

Alex Cohen helped keep Walla Walla within reach after taking over in the fourth inning. The right-hander worked three innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.

The Sweets added another run in the seventh. Isaac Torres singled and later scored when Rogers delivered an RBI single, pulling Walla Walla within two at 5-3.

Bend answered with a run in the bottom half, but the Sweets refused to go quietly.

Tse and Gage Reeser reached in the ninth, and Sam Kane followed to keep the inning moving. Osborne then lined a two-run single into center field, scoring Tse and Reeser and cutting the margin to one.

The hit gave Osborne two RBIs and brought the potential tying run into scoring position, but Bend escaped the inning to preserve the 6-5 final.

Knowles finished 1-for-4 with a triple, a walk, an RBI and a run scored in his return. Tse also drove in a run and scored once, while Rogers recorded a hit, an RBI, a run and a walk.

Torres led Walla Walla with two hits and scored once. Kane reached three times with a hit and two walks, while Landon Young added a hit and stole a base.

The Sweets collected nine hits and drew six walks, putting runners on throughout the night and finishing with five different players recording RBIs.

Gabe Brabec made his Sweets debut out of the bullpen and worked a scoreless eighth inning. The right-hander allowed no hits, struck out one and worked around two walks to keep Walla Walla within striking distance.

Charlie Seneker also struck out two in one inning of relief, while the Sweets pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts.

Walla Walla turned a double play and played error-free defense for the second straight game of the series.

The Sweets and Elks will decide the series Thursday, July 2, in the rubber match at Vince Genna Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.