WALLA WALLA, Wash. (July 28, 2026) – Tuesday night at Borleske Stadium gave the Walla Walla Sweets a different kind of look, and plenty of players took advantage of the opportunity.

Jackson Wendt reached base four times and drove in two runs, Keagan Kelly and Austin Owens combined for five RBIs and the Sweets rallied past the Northwest Star Nighthawks 12-4 in the first of two seven-inning non-league games.

The game marked Walla Walla’s first non-league matchup of the summer and featured several new faces, along with a few familiar players in new spots around the field.

Northwest Star jumped ahead with four runs in the third inning, but the Sweets began working their way back in the fourth.

Bo Stinson and Jaylen Kennedy reached to start the inning before Wendt came through with a hit to help load the bases. Kelly followed with a single into center field, bringing Stinson and Kennedy home and cutting the deficit to 4-2.

The Sweets took control one inning later.

Cole Rogers reached and later scored on a wild pitch. Ronan Scoffield followed by reaching base, and Logan Nakamura moved into scoring position ahead of Gaines Haussin, who singled to right field to bring Scoffield home.

Nakamura later scored on a balk, giving Walla Walla the lead. Kelly worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home Haussin, and Owens lifted a sacrifice fly to score Kennedy, capping a five-run fifth inning and putting the Sweets ahead 7-4.

Walla Walla kept the pressure on in the sixth.

Stinson and Haussin reached before Wendt lined a two-run single, scoring both runners and stretching the lead to five. Kelly then reached again before Owens drove a two-run double into right field, bringing home Kelly and Wendt.

Rogers followed with an RBI single to right field, scoring Owens and creating the final 12-4 margin.

Wendt had a strong night on both sides of the ball. He made his first start of the summer on the mound and also served as the designated hitter, finishing 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk.

Kelly reached three times, going 1-for-1 with two walks, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Owens drove in three runs in his first time at third base this summer, adding a double and a sacrifice fly.

Rogers reached base four times from the top of the lineup, recording a hit, three walks, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Haussin went 1-for-1 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.

Nakamura recorded a hit and scored while making his first appearance at first base. Scoffield also made his first appearance in center field, and Ethan Belcher made his Sweets debut behind the plate, catching the final two innings.

On the mound, Joey Genduso helped steady the game after the early deficit. The right-hander turned in his best appearance of the season, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out two.

Bryce Chambers made his Sweets debut in the sixth and struck out two in a perfect inning.

Jack Gripentrog also made his Walla Walla debut, handling the seventh and allowing one hit while striking out one to close the game.

The Sweets bullpen combined for 4.1 scoreless innings, with Genduso, Chambers and Gripentrog keeping Northwest Star off the board after the third.

Walla Walla scored 12 runs on seven hits and drew 11 walks. The Sweets also stole five bases and scored 10 unanswered runs over the final three innings.

The Sweets return to Borleske Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, for their second and final non-league game against the Northwest Star Nighthawks. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.