Eight Run Fifth Inning Leads Pippins to 13-7 Win Over Honkers
Fresh off of a seven run eighth inning in a win over the Bend Elks on Sunday, the Pippins offense continued to roll against the Northwest Honkers.
The Pippins got off to a quick start in the first inning. After a 1-2-3 first inning for Pippins starter Jack Gonzales, Sam Mitchell and Cody Jefferis hit back to back doubles in the bottom of the first inning. Elijah Greene would follow with a run scoring single and Bryce Woolridge, just added to the roster on Monday, would hit an RBI single. Honkers starter Josh Snider would get some help with a line drive double play before striking out Victor Cerny to end the inning.
The Honkers would score their first run in the second inning, with the Pippins answering in the bottom half. The Honkers would mount a comeback with a run in the third and two runs in the fourth to tie the game at 4 and chase starter Jack Gonzales. He went 3.2 innings giving up four runs on nine hits. Michael Bovee Jr. would take over and get out of the fourth inning.
The Pippins would rally in the fifth and one-up the previous night's seven run eighth inning. Greene lead off the inning with a base hit and Chris Arpan would fly out for the first out. The Honkers wouldn't record the second out for the next ten batters.
Jonathan Imperial and Wollridge would single, scoring another run. Snider would be replaced by Stuart Maes who couldn't stop the bleeding. Mitch Dean would follow with a groundball that should have been the second out of the inning but an errant throw by third baseman Jordan Padilla would get beyond first base, scoring two runs and putting Dean at third. Cerny would then double in another run. After a hit batter, Mitchell would walk in what would become four straight walks, three with the bases loaded. Garrett Gagnon would take over for Maes, who couldn't record an out. Imperial, batting for the second time in the inning, would drive in the final run with a fielders choice. After the final out was recorded, the Pippins scored eight runs and took a 12-4 lead.
The Honkers put two runs on the board in the top of the sixth and the Pippins answered with another run in the seventh. An RBI single by Paul Bryniarski would be the final score for the Honkers. Lucas Juarez and Nick Flesher would throw the final two innings allowing just one run and sealed the Pippins 13-7 win over the Honkers.
The Pippins will travel to Portland on Tuesday to take on the south leading Pickles in a three game series. First pitch of game one is at 6:35.