In yesterday’s ballgame the Sweets lost a low scoring affair that saw the Sweets scrape just two runs across. In today’s ballgame the Sweets struggled to plate runs all night long, especially out of the gate. 

Both starters rolled from the get go. Black Bears starting pitcher Dylan Henson went five and two thirds of scoreless baseball not allowing a base hit with five strikeouts and just one walk. On the other side Alex Jennings went five innings of scoreless ball. However in the sixth inning the Black Bears finally got to him.

It all started with a Will Jesske leadoff double. After a flyout, a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases. Brayden Oram delivered a clutch RBI single to plate two runs, followed by an error that kept the inning alive. Another walk forced in a third run before Paxton Fenberg came on to limit the damage, striking out Matt Priest to finally end the inning but not before Cowlitz put up three runs on just two hits, taking a 3-0 lead.

However the lead did not last long as the Sweets in the top of the seventh finally broke through. Owen Estabrook opened the inning with a double and was quickly joined on base by Nate Stiveson, who worked a walk. Jacob Talbott followed with a single to left, driving in Estabrook to cut into the Cowlitz lead 3-1. After another walk to Andrew Demianew loaded the bases, a pitching change did little to slow the rally. Hunter Komine reached on a fielder’s choice, erasing Stiveson at the plate for the first out, but Landon Young drew a walk to force in another run and Tanner Kern followed with a lengthy at-bat before working a bases-loaded walk to bring home Demianew.

The momentum continued as Dominic Cadiz delivered a two-run double down the line, plating both Young and Komine and advancing Kern to third. Estabrook was then hit by a pitch to load the bases once more, but the Sweets left them full after Stiveson struck out swinging to end the inning. In total, Walla Walla plated five runs on three hits in the frame, turning a deficit into a 5-3 seventh inning lead.

Paxton Fenberg worked through the seventh and the eighth inning without giving up a run. However in the bottom of the ninth with the Sweets knocking on the door of a victory the Black Bears got to closing pitcher Dylan Torres. After a walk and a single Paxton Bigby kept the inning moving with an RBI single to right however Poffenroth was retired as he was hit by the hard hit grounder trying to get to second base for the second out.

The pressure didn’t ease though as Brayden Oram drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run and bring the Black Bears within one. After a pitching change that saw Alex Figueroa step in, Martin Serrano battled through a long at-bat to earn a walk, forcing home Stewart to tie up the game. Braeden Lundberg then delivered a game-winning single to right as Cowlitz walked off Walla Walla 6-5.

Sweets look to salvage the series on Friday before heading home for a three game set against the Corvallis Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM. The radio broadcast can be found on the Walla Walla Sweets Mixlr at 6:20.