SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (July 7, 2026) – In his first start as a WCL All-Star, Curtis Ellis kept it rolling, and the Walla Walla Sweets gave him more than enough support to open their road trip with a win.

Ellis threw six shutout innings for the second straight start, Trevor Tse finished a home run shy of the cycle and the Sweets beat the Springfield Drifters 6-3 on Tuesday night at Hamlin Sports Complex.

The victory opened the three-game series and continued a strong start to the second half of the West Coast League season for Walla Walla.

Ellis was sharp from the beginning. The right-hander allowed only two hits across six scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two. He needed just 68 pitches to record 18 outs and kept Springfield from building any sustained pressure throughout his outing.

Over his last two starts, Ellis has thrown 12 shutout innings while allowing just five hits.

Walla Walla broke through in the fifth inning.

Tse tripled and later came home on a passed ball, giving the Sweets a 1-0 lead. The third baseman continued to create offense throughout the night, finishing with three hits and playing a role in half of Walla Walla’s runs.

The Sweets added another run in the seventh. Tse reached again before Payton Knowles drove a double into the gap, bringing him home and stretching the lead to 2-0.

Springfield got on the board in the bottom half, but Walla Walla answered right back in the eighth.

Isaac Torres reached, moved into scoring position and scored on an RBI single from Tse, giving the Sweets a 3-1 advantage.

Walla Walla then created separation in the ninth.

Gage Reeser scored on an RBI double from Ethan Buckley, and Torres followed by crossing the plate for the second time in the game. Nate Petz then delivered one of the biggest swings of the night, lining a two-run single to bring home Buckley and Torres and push the lead to 6-1.

Springfield added two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Sweets had already built enough cushion to close out the series opener.

Tse led the lineup by going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. He finished a home run shy of the cycle and helped Walla Walla extend multiple innings from the bottom of the order.

Knowles also had a big night, going 3-for-5 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Since returning to the lineup last week, Knowles has continued to give the Sweets consistent production near the top of the order.

Buckley added two hits, including an RBI double, while Sam Kane reached three times with two hits and a walk. Ronan Scoffield singled and laid down two sacrifice bunts, and Torres walked twice, stole a base and scored two runs.

Petz finished with two RBIs, giving him five over his last two games after also helping spark Sunday’s comeback win over Ridgefield.

After Ellis exited, Charles Rogers III struck out two in the seventh, Hayden Line tossed a scoreless eighth and Isaac Hallam finished the ninth.

The Sweets’ pitching staff combined to strike out six and held Springfield scoreless through the first six innings. Walla Walla also turned a double play for the fourth consecutive game.

The win gave the Sweets victories in four of their last five games and opened the road trip on a strong note after a holiday weekend sweep at Borleske Stadium.

Walla Walla returns to Hamlin Sports Complex on Wednesday, July 8, for game two against Springfield. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.