Elks Missed Chances Deal Away Series Finale Against Portland
Ryan Christiansen led the Elks’ offense with three hits, but Bend failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position. (Andrew Green)
Bend, OR. - The Bend Elks had several opportunities to capitalize with runners in scoring position but failed to cash in, allowing the Portland Pickles to hang around to take the series finale 5-2 and avoid the sweep.
Despite having 13 hits in the game, Bend left 12 runners stranded, including six in scoring position, causing the Elks to go scoreless through the first seven innings. The Pickles didn't have much success offensively through the first five innings as Tucker Grote turned in yet another fabulous start for the Elks tossing five scoreless innings with one strikeout giving up just three hits and one walk. He retired 15 of the 19 batters he faced. Ryan Morrison provided an additional shutout inning for the Elks on the mound in the sixth.
Twelve goose eggs across the scoreboard going into the seventh resembled a similar tale to the last time the Elks and Pickles met in a series finale. Two weeks prior at Walker Stadium, both teams went scoreless through seven innings until Portland punched through with a four spot in the eighth to secure the victory. On Sunday, the Pickles found late life on the bats once more, scoring a combined five runs across the final three innings on a two-out two-run single by Armando Garza in the seventh, an Armand Brieseno RBI double, and Xaige Lancaster RBI single in the eighth, and a Garza one-run single in the ninth.
Bend mustered two runs in response to Portland's late rally posting one run in the eighth thanks to a throwing error from Jesse Pierce at third that allowed Elijah Jackson to score. The Elks added its other run in the ninth on a solo shot by Ryan Christiansen, who sent his team-leading fourth home run deep over the right field wall. Unfortunately for the Elks, it was too little too late, causing them to miss out on a sweep of Portland for the second time this season.
The Pickles finished with ten hits and struck out just once against Bend pitching. Lancaster, Pierce, and Garza each had multiple hits, with Lancaster leading the way with one hit and an RBI. Max Fraser (2-1) was the winning pitcher providing two scoreless innings of relief in the fifth and sixth retiring six of the eight batters he faced, including three by the punchout.
Bend had several stellar offensive performances go to waste, with four Elks finishing with multiple hits for the second straight night. Luca Dipaolo, Justin Tsukada, and Jackson each had two hits, while Christiansen led the pack with his first three-hit game since June 5 and accounted for the Elks' only RBI.
Bend gets an off day Monday before heading up North for a critical road series against a familiar foe, the Walla Walla Sweets, who the Elks had to walk off twice to win the series against the Sweets earlier this season. First Pitch Tuesday is at 6:35 at Borleske Stadium. All games can be viewed on the Walla Walla Sweets YouTube Channel and listened to on Bend Elks Mixlr.
