Bats Strike Early as Pippins Win Their First Series

SPRINGFIELD, Or.- While the pitching got it done in game one of the series against the Springfield Drifters, the bats performed in game 2 en route to an 8-2 Pippins victory.

Tyler Frieders earned his first win of the season as 8 of 9 Pippins players reached base at least once.

It was a methodical start to the game as the first 3 batters all reached after each worked the count full. By the time the first out was recorded, Drifters starter Isaac Evaniew had thrown well over 20 pitches and 2 runs had scored.

A pair of walks, an error, a wild pitch, and a few stolen bags put Yakima Valley up 2-0 out of the gate.

Frieders would take the lead and run with it, as he went 5 scoreless innings allowing only 4 hits and leaving 7 Drifters on-base.

The Pippins would break it open in the 4th. They chased the starter after the first 3 batters of the inning would reach, and in the first at-bat against the reliever DH Spencer Marenco blasted one off of the wall in left for a 2-run double.

Jaxon Sorenson would add to the lead with his 2-RBI single later in the inning, and by the time the 4th had concluded it was 7-0 Pippins.

Following that outburst, the Pippins would add another in the 6th and the relievers would do the rest. Gaven Mattson threw a scoreless 6th, Caden Duke tossed the 7th and Spencer Shipman pitched the final 2 innings to lock up the victory.

This win puts the Pippins at 3-7 and out of the cellar in the South Division, as the Drifters drop to that role at 4-10. Yakima Valley has clinched their first series win of the season and will go for the sweep at 6:35 tomorrow before heading to Corvallis.

By Zach McKinstry

June 16, 2022