Pippins Grind Out Extra Winning Win over Kelowna

KELOWNA, BC - Trevor Achenbach (Oklahoma Wesleyan) provided the game-winning base hit, sparking the Yakima Valley Pippins 11-inning win, 4-3, over the Kelowna Falcons on Wednesday Night, the first game since the West Coast League All-Star Break.

Both teams were tied, 3-3, after six innings when the Yakima Valley Pippins (24-16, 9-4) struck for two runs, featuring an RBI single from Freddy Smith (Cal State Northridge) in the frame.

Ryan Garcia (UCLA) entered out of the bullpen earning the win over Kelowna, snapping the Falcons six game win streak, striking out seven hitters in four innings of relief. Starting pitcher Gavin Velasquez (Cal State Fullerton) tossed six innings, effectively working his way out of four hit batters, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

The Pippins jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on an RBI single from Hunter Hanson (College of Idaho), improving their record to 3-3 in extra-inning contests. Connor Zwetsch (Oregon) earned his fourth save of the season striking out two over his one scoreless inning of relief, posting a season-high 13 strikeouts from the pitching staff.

Smith led the squad finishing 3-5, scoring three runs in the winning effort. Christian Koss (UC Irvine) and Jace VanDeBrake (Gonzaga) posted consecutive two-out hits in the 10th inning, eventually stranding men on base in each of the last four frames.

Yakima native Jens Jensen (Central Washington) will start Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. as the Yakima Valley Pippins search for the series win. Fans can listen to all the action live on 1460 ESPN Yakima, the official home for Pippins Baseball.