Strong Pitching and a Red Hot Offense Lead to Pippins’ Second Straight Win

The Pippins picked up right where they left off on Saturday with a strong offense and great pitching performances to take the season opening series against the Sweets and winning on Sunday 8-1.

In a near repeat of the first inning on Saturday, the Pippins put three runs on the board in the first. Chris Arpan (U of Portland) drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single scoring Tyler Hollow (Dixie State) from second base. Two batters later, Grant DeLappe (WSU) found outfield grass with a base hit scoring Conor Allard (U of Nevada). The final run of the frame would score on a bases loaded walk to Jonathan Imperial (US Air Force Academy). The Pippins wouldn’t look back after the first.

Davonte Butler (Cal State Bakersfield) got the start and the win for the Pippins on the same day that he flew into Yakima. Butler shut down the Sweets with five scoreless innings allowing just three hits and a walk. He didn’t strike out a batter but he was effective pitching to contact.

The Pippins would put their fourth run on the board in the fourth inning. Imperial lead off and hammered the first pitch he saw from starter Michael Peterson (Walla Walla CC) over the wall in right center field for the Pippins first home run of the season. Peterson took the loss as he went six innings for the Sweets allowing six runs, all earned, on ten hits.

The Pippins would continue to add on late in the ballgame, scoring two runs in the sixth and two more runs in the seventh to take a 8-1 lead into the ninth inning. Kaleb Strawn (Columbia Basin CC) pitched a scoreless ninth as the Pippins picked up their second win of the season and a series victory over the Walla Walla Sweets.

After an off day on Monday, the Pippins will look to stretch their winning streak to three when they take on the Victoria Harbourcats on Tuesday. First pitch at 6:35.

By Kevin Vallene

June 4, 2018