Seven Straight Runs Fuel Pippins Comeback Win over Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, WA - The Yakima Valley Pippins scored the final seven runs of the game on Wednesday night, earning a hard-fought comeback win to even the series with the Bellingham Bells, 9-5, in 10 innings at Joe Martin Field.

Trailing 5-2 entering the 6th inning, the Pippins (11-6) scored one run in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings. Then Andrew Bernstein (Cal Poly Slo) loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th inning, forcing a pitching change to Matt Fish (Lewis-Clark State College) in a 5-5 game. Fish (2-1) retired the next three men he faced, escaping the bases-loaded jam and earning the win in the process. Connor Zwetsch (Oregon) pitched a scoreless 10th, earning his first save.

In the top of the 10th inning, Jay Schuyler (San Diego) led off with one of his two base hits on the night. After Mitchell Morimoto (Arizona) reached on catchers interference, Trevor Achenbach (Oklahoma Wesleyan) delivered one of his three hits on the night.

Facing a bases loaded situation themselves, Ryan Garcia (UCLA) provided the game-winning base hit, a 2-RBI double into right field. Michael Filia (UC Irvine), who scored twice on three hits Wednesday night, followed that up with a 2-RBI single making it 9-5 in favor of the Pippins.

Following the win, the Pippins improve to 2-2 in extra-inning games. The Yakima Valley Pippins and Bellingham Bells return to action Thursday night at 7:05 for the final game of the series. Fans can listen to the action live on 1460 ESPN Yakima, the official home for Pippins Baseball.