SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (July 8, 2026) – The Walla Walla Sweets put together one more push in the ninth inning Wednesday night, but the late rally was not enough to complete a comeback in Springfield.

Gage Reeser launched his second home run of the summer, Trevor Tse continued his strong series and Jackson Wendt made his Sweets debut as Walla Walla fell 5-3 to the Springfield Drifters at Hamlin Sports Complex.

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

Springfield scored once in the first inning, but Walla Walla answered in the third.

Tse doubled to get the inning started and later came home on a sacrifice fly from Sam Kane, tying the game at 1-1.

The Drifters moved back in front with a run in the fourth and added two more in the sixth, but the Sweets continued to put runners on throughout the night.

Tse added another hit later in the game, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Through the first two games of the series, he is 5-for-9 with three extra-base hits and has helped set the table from the bottom of the order.

Walla Walla threatened again in the ninth.

Reeser opened the inning by sending a solo home run over the left-center field fence, cutting the deficit to 5-2. The blast was his second homer of the summer and gave the Sweets a quick spark in the final frame.

Royce Hale followed with a double, and Austin Owens came in to run. Gunner Geile and Jaylen Kennedy then reached to load the bases, giving Walla Walla a chance to bring the tying run to the plate.

Cole Rogers lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Owens and pulling the Sweets within two.

Springfield escaped the jam from there, leaving the tying run aboard and holding on for the 5-3 final.

Reeser finished with a home run and an RBI, while Kane and Rogers each drove in runs on sacrifice flies. Kennedy led the Sweets with two hits, and Tse added two more of his own.

Hale doubled, and Sam Kane, Nate Petz and Geile each recorded hits as Walla Walla finished with nine as a team.

Nico Bavaro made the start for the Sweets and worked four innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two.

Wendt followed with a scoreless inning in his first appearance with Walla Walla. The right-hander worked around a walk and kept Springfield off the board in his Sweets debut.

Charlie Seneker handled two innings out of the bullpen and allowed just one earned run while striking out one. Trevor Stowe closed the night with a strong eighth inning, striking out two of the four batters he faced.

The Sweets pitching staff held Springfield to six hits and struck out five. Walla Walla also continued to create chances offensively, putting together nine hits and bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth.

Walla Walla will return to Hamlin Sports Complex on Thursday, July 9, for the series rubber match against Springfield. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.