In yesterday’s ballgame, the Sweets got blown out by the Pickles to cap off a series win over Portland at home. In today’s contest, the scoreline indicated another blowout — but for a different reason.

Out of the gate, Sweets opening pitcher Jacob Talbot was dealing as he finished the first with three strikeouts, allowing just one hit and no runs. After the first inning, the Sweets switched over to Dawson Mooney on the mound.

After two scoreless innings, the Sweets scratched the scoreboard first. Johnny Backus doubled to right field to open the home half. Zane Bidwell then singled to left as Backus advanced to third. Backus came home and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Andrew Demianew, with Bidwell moving to second on the play. Gunner Geile singled to right, scoring Bidwell, but was out trying to stretch it into a double. After the third, the Sweets led 2-0.

In the fourth, Sweets pitching just kept dealing. Mooney struck out the first two batters for his seventh straight strikeout. Against Williams, Mooney was ahead 0-2 and one pitch away from an immaculate inning, but couldn’t close the deal as Williams singled. Still, Mooney closed out the fourth without allowing a score and striking out seven.

In the home half, the Sweets kept adding on. Landon Young singled with one out and Nate Stiveson walked to put two on. Both runners stole a base before Johnny Backus was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On a side note, that was Young’s team-leading 10th steal of the season. With the bases juiced, Zane Bidwell singled to right, scoring Young and Stiveson, with an error allowing a second run. Andrew Demianew walked to reload the bases, and Gunner Geile brought in Backus with a sacrifice fly to left. Entering the fifth, Walla Walla led 5-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, the scoreboard blew wide open for the Sweets. Tanner Kern singled but was caught stealing to open the inning. Landon Young singled, stole second, and scored on Nate Stiveson’s RBI single and error. Johnny Backus followed with an RBI single. After a Bidwell reach on error and multiple defensive miscues, two more runs came in. Andrew Demianew singled in another, Gunner Geile doubled, and Jacob Talbot’s two-run double capped a seven-run inning. Entering the sixth, the Sweets were in complete control on top 12-0.

Dawson Mooney kept dealing but was eventually pulled with two outs in the sixth inning. Mooney finished his night allowing zero runs on three hits, with a walk and 11 strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings.

The Nighthawks brought a few runs home in the eighth, but it was too little, too late. A four-run top of the eighth drew the score to 12-4, but by that point it was out of reach as Trevor Stowe slammed the door in the ninth inning for a 13-4 Sweets win.

For an interview with Dawson Mooney, check out our postgame show on the Walla Walla Sweets YouTube channel. Tomorrow, the Sweets take on the Northwest Star Nighthawks once again, a non-West Coast League foe. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m., with live coverage starting at 6:15 on the Sweets’ YouTube.