WALLA WALLA, Wash. (July 3, 2026) – In front of one of the biggest crowds of the summer, the Walla Walla Sweets gave Borleske Stadium plenty to celebrate before the fireworks even began.

Payton Knowles delivered a go-ahead two-run single, Charles Rogers III threw four hitless innings and the bullpen protected a one-run lead as the Sweets defeated the Ridgefield Raptors 4-3 in Friday night’s series opener.

The victory opened Walla Walla’s first home series of the second half and came against the WCL South first-half champions, who entered the weekend with the best overall record in the league.

Rogers set the tone immediately on the mound.

The right-hander did not allow a hit across four scoreless innings, issuing only one walk while striking out five. He threw 39 of his 57 pitches for strikes and faced just 14 batters, keeping Ridgefield’s lineup quiet through the early portion of the game.

Walla Walla broke the scoreless tie in the fourth.

Bo Stinson, making his first start in nearly two weeks, singled and stole second to put himself in scoring position. He later came around to score when Austin Owens put the ball in play and a Ridgefield error allowed the inning to continue.

The sequence gave the Sweets a 1-0 lead and rewarded Stinson for making an immediate impact in his return to the starting lineup.

Ridgefield moved ahead with three runs over the next two innings, but Walla Walla answered quickly in the bottom of the sixth.

Ethan Buckley started the rally with a double before Gaines Haussin and Owens reached to load the bases. Cole Rogers then lined an RBI single into center field, bringing Buckley home and cutting the deficit to one.

Knowles followed with the biggest swing of the night, driving a two-run single into right field to score Haussin and Owens and put the Sweets back in front, 4-3.

Knowles finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. Since returning to the lineup earlier in the week, he has recorded at least one hit and one RBI in three consecutive games.

Rogers added a hit, an RBI and a stolen base, while Buckley doubled and scored. Haussin reached twice and scored the tying run, and Owens drew two walks and crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.

Stinson finished with a hit, a stolen base and Walla Walla’s first run of the game in his return to the lineup.

After the Sweets reclaimed the lead, the bullpen took care of the rest.

Lower Columbia College teammates Hayden Line and Rudy Larson made their Sweets debuts in consecutive appearances. Line recorded four outs while allowing only one hit, helping Walla Walla work out of a difficult sixth inning.

Larson followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit without issuing a walk. He struck out one and earned his first win in a Sweets uniform.

Isaac Hallam took over in the ninth and needed just seven pitches to retire the side in order. He struck out one and earned his third save of the summer.

Hallam has now recorded a save in each of his last three appearances, striking out five while allowing no hits or walks across those three innings.

The Sweets’ defense also played an important role in protecting the lead. Walla Walla did not commit an error and turned two double plays, including one that helped limit Ridgefield’s sixth-inning rally.

Rogers, Line, Larson and Hallam combined to hold the Raptors scoreless in seven of the nine innings. The pitching staff allowed six hits and struck out seven.

The victory gave Walla Walla a win over the league’s top team and sent the Fourth of July weekend crowd into a postgame fireworks celebration with the Sweets back in the win column.

Walla Walla will have an opportunity to clinch the series Saturday, July 4, against Ridgefield. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. at Borleske Stadium as the Sweets continue the holiday weekend on the 250th anniversary of the United States.