Pippins Bounce Back, Even Series With Walla Walla
The Pippins rebounded from an Opening Day loss and beat the Walla Walla Sweets 8-5 on Saturday.
After struggling offensively on Friday, the Pippins came out swinging early. After two quick outs in the bottom of the first, the Pippins put together a rally. Five straight batters got on base with four hits and a walk. The big blows were a two run single by Grant DeLappe (WSU) and a two run double by Jonathan Imperial (US Air Force Academy). The Pippins would tack on another run in the third to take a 5-0 lead.
The Pippins got a solid performance from starter Mason Wells (Gonzaga). Wells threw five innings allowing just one run on four hits.
After being in a 5-0 hole, the Sweets clawed their way back. A run in the fourth and a run in the sixth made it 5-2. In the seventh inning, a costly error gave the Sweets a spark.
Jack Filby (UCLA) lead off the inning with a double. Danny Sinatro (WSU) followed by skying a ball to left field that Imperial lost in the lights and dropped, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Jordan Hovey (Creighton) immediately followed with a two-run double and Zach Penrod (Northwest Nazarene) grounded out to drive in another run and tie the game at five.
A defensive miscue let the Sweets back into the game, but it was another defensive miscue that helped a Pippins rally. In the bottom of the seventh, Sam Mitchell (MSU) lead off with a fly ball to right field that was lost in the lights leading to a two base error. The Pippins were able to cash in with an RBI double by Cole Jones (MSU) to retake the lead and an RBI single by Imperial to tack on an insurance run.
The Pippins would add another run in the eighth to take an 8-5 lead into the ninth where Connor White (University of Portland), a 2017 WCL All-Star for the Pippins, struck out the side to seal the Pippins first win of the season.
The Pippins will look to win the series against the Sweets on Sunday. First pitch at 6:05.