SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (July 9, 2026) – A few new faces made their first appearances for the Walla Walla Sweets on Thursday night as the club closed its road series in Springfield.

Payton Knowles reached base three more times, Kyler Bittner drove in a run in his Sweets debut and three players appeared for Walla Walla for the first time in an 11-5 loss to the Springfield Drifters at Hamlin Sports Complex.

The result gave Springfield the series after Walla Walla opened the set with a 6-3 win on Tuesday.

The Sweets got on the board first in the opening inning. Sam Kane reached and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Royce Hale, giving Walla Walla a 1-0 lead.

Walla Walla added two more runs in the second. Nate Petz reached and scored on a wild pitch before Bittner came home on a sacrifice fly from Knowles, stretching the lead to 3-0.

Perry Stow worked around traffic early and kept Springfield scoreless through the first three innings. The right-hander struck out three across four innings and allowed only two hits.

Springfield cut into the lead with two runs in the fourth, then moved ahead during the middle innings.

Walla Walla continued to chip away late.

Austin Owens reached in the seventh and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Kane, giving the Sweets their fourth run of the night.

In the eighth, Bo Stinson came in to run and eventually scored when Bittner lined an RBI single. The hit was Bittner’s first as a Sweet and gave the Fresno State infielder his first RBI with Walla Walla.

Bittner made the start at third base in his debut and finished with a hit, an RBI, a run scored and a hit-by-pitch.

Knowles continued his strong stretch at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. In his first series since being named a WCL All-Star, Knowles finished 5-for-11 with two doubles, two RBIs and three walks, reaching base at a .571 clip.

Cole Rogers also had a multi-hit night, collecting two singles. Petz added a hit and a run scored, while Kane, Hale and Bittner each drove in runs.

The Sweets scored four of their five runs through productive outs, with Knowles, Kane and Hale each recording sacrifice flies.

Walla Walla also saw two new arms make their Sweets debuts out of the bullpen.

Zack Vega entered in the fifth and recorded 1.2 innings, striking out one in his first appearance with the club. Quade Gonzalez IV followed with one inning of work and also picked up his first strikeout as a Sweet.

Owen Godinez handled the eighth in his second pitching appearance of the season. The right-hander struck out two and did not allow an earned run in his inning of work.

The Sweets pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts, while the offense drew three walks and put runners on base in six of the nine innings.

Walla Walla will return home Friday, July 10, to open a three-game series against the Yakima Valley Pippins at Borleske Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.