Nick DiCarlo’s Two Run Triple in the 11th Leads Pippins to Win over Cowlitz

After blowing a four run lead in the 8th inning, Nick DiCarlo picked the Pippins up with a go ahead two run triple in the eleventh inning to beat the Cowlitz Black Bears 7-5 on Sunday.

The Pippins grabbed an early lead in the first inning when Jake Moberg drove in Cody Jefferis from second with a two out single. Moberg would later be stranded at second. Cowlitz starter Jordan Martinson would settle down and start to rack up strikeouts. Over his five innings, Martinson picked up 8 K’s.

Mason Wells got the start for the Pippins and rolled through the first three innings, allowing just one baserunner on a hit by pitch while striking out four. In the fourth inning, Cowlitz got their first hit and run on one swing of the bat when Blake Burton launched an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run.

In the fifth, the Pippins answered right back, loading the bases with no outs. Jefferis followed with a sacrifice fly. The inning could have been bigger but on another fly out by Kyle Dean, DiCarlo was caught off at first before the runner could score from third, ending the inning.

In the sixth and seventh innings, the Pippins played add on, grabbing three more runs on a Elijah Greene double, a Jefferis triple and a Dean single.

Heading to the bottom of the eighth, the Pippins had built a comfortable 5-1 lead. Wells came back out for the eighth, having not allowed a run since the fourth inning homer. The first two batters reached, scoring a run and prompting a the Pippins to bring in Drew Hurst out of the bullpen. Hurst would allow a single and an RBI double before being removed for Jack Gonzales. After a walk, Gonzales retired the next two batters before spiking a pitch in the dirt. Victor Cerny had trouble finding the ball which had careened over to the Pippins dugout. The wild pitch scored two runs and tied the game at 5. Connor White would be summoned to record the final out of the inning.

Both teams would be held scoreless in the ninth and tenth innings before the Pippins were finally able to break through in the eleventh. With two outs and the bases clear, Cerny and Cole Jones both walked to extend the inning. DiCarlo then stepped up to the plate to play the hero. On an 0-1 pitch, DiCarlo ripped a ball to the centerfield wall for a two run triple.

Bryce Wooldridge came on to pitch the bottom of the eleventh, and shut down the Black Bears to finish off a 7-5 Pippins win.

The Pippins will have a day off on Monday before starting their final home series of the season against the Victoria HarbourCats. First pitch on Tuesday at 6:35.

By Kevin Vallene

July 30, 2018