Persistence Pays Off In Series Win over Kelowna

KELOWNA, BC - The Yakima Valley Pippins scored three runs over the final two innings, pulling out the series win on Saturday night by defeating the Kelowna Falcons 4-1 at Elks Stadium. Tied 1-1 entering the 8th inning, the Pippins (25-17, 10-5) scored one run on a 2-out wild pitch from the Falcons, plating Ryan Garcia (UCLA) as the winning run after stranding the bases loaded with one out during the inning before.

Zach Draper (College of Idaho) earned his West Coast League leading 7th win of the season throwing 7.2 innings, allowing zero earned runs on six hits while striking out two. The Kelowna Falcons did score one run in the 4th inning, ending Draper’s consecutive scoreless streak at 24.2 innings, his first run allowed in the month of July.

Connor Zwetsch (Oregon) earned his second save of the series, pitching the final four outs from the bullpen. Zwetsch retired the last out of the 8th inning with the bases loaded, then shut the door over the final frame for his 5th save of the season.

Then in the top of the 9th inning, the Pippins scored two runs on two hits, including an RBI single from Freddy Smith (Cal State Northridge), his third hit of the evening. Jay Schuyler (San Diego) would add on to the lead, 4-1, with an RBI squeeze bunt.

Jace VanDeBrake (Gonzaga) finished as one of four players with two or more hits, scoring a run in the 9th inning. Zach Bonneau (Gonzaga) gave the Pippins an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on a 2-out RBI single, finishing the night 2-4 at the plate, while leadoff hitter Christian Koss (UC Irvine) posted two hits in the winning effort.

Following the win, the Yakima Valley Pippins improve to 14-7 on the road this season, returning to action Friday night in Kitsap for the start of a three game series. Fans can listen to the action live on 1460 ESPN Yakima, the official home for Pippins Baseball.