Hunter French Goes 7 Strong and Pippins Offense Mashes Their Way to 11-3 Win Over Black Bears

Behind Cole Pofek’s four RBI’s and Nick DiCarlo’s three hits, the Pippins offense exploded for 11 runs in their 11-3 win over the Cowlitz Black Bears, snapping the team’s three game losing streak.

After Pippins starter Hunter French set down the Black Bears in order in the top of the first inning, the offense got him the lead right away. Dicarlo lead off with a walk and two batters later, Kyle Dean smashed an RBI triple to the right center field wall, giving the Pippins a 1-0 lead. Pofek followed with an RBI groundout to extend the lead.

The Pippins added on in the second. Cole Jones reached on an error by shortstop Tanner Parker and after moving to second with two outs, DiCarlo rips a double, scoring Jones and widened the lead to 3-0. Black Bears starter Matt Gannon would be removed with one out in the fourth.

French was cruising through the first three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth. After a one out walk to Dutton Elske who was moved to second on a groundout, Tanner Parker found some outfield grass with a single, scoring Elske. An error on the throw home would allow Parker to motor into second. Liam Ballance followed with another single and bringing the Black Bears within a run. French was able to induce a groundball to get out of the inning.

The Pippins and Black Bears would trade zeros until the sixth when the Pippins finally got to the Black Bears bullpen. The Pippins opened up the inning with five straight singles including back to back bunt base hits from Bryce Wooldridge and DiCarlo to grab two more runs. An RBI groundout by Dean and a sacrifice fly by Pofek staked the Pippins to a 7-2 lead.

French came out in the top of the seventh, trying to go seven innings for the first time this season. After two quick outs. Mason De La Cruz would get a base hit. Ryan Kim followed with a single that was bobbled by Jones in center field and overthrown back into the infield, allowing De La Cruz to score all the way from first. French would get Andres Sosa to fly out, notching his first seven inning start of the season allowing just three runs (one earned).

The Pippins offense wasn’t done, scoring another run in the seventh and busting out for another big inning in the eighth. DiCarlo would lead off the inning with a single and Cody Jefferis would follow with a walk. After a strikeout of Dean, Pofek ripped a two run double. Jake Moberg followed with a single, scoring Pofek. After eight, the Pippins lead 11-3.

Cole Fossat came out of the bullpen in the ninth, making his first appearance of the season and was dominate. He struck out the side to seal the Pippins 11-3 win at home, snapping their three game losing streak. In their last three home games, the Pippins have scored 38 runs. With the loss, the Black Bears have dropped seven straight.

The Pippins will look to get back to .500 tomorrow in game two of the three game series. First pitch at 6:35.

By Kevin Vallene

June 27, 2018