Bend beats Bells on comeback quest

Bend’s resiliency at the plate shined through in its sixth come from behind win of the season. (Sage Young)

Bellingham, WA - Bend conquered its eight-hour quest to Bellingham, beating the Bells 6-4 with a resilient comeback.

The Elks, who departed from Vince Genna Stadium at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, went from stiff off the bus straight to giving Bellingham the business with their bats.

Although the Bells tried to invoke fear into Bend's dugout on a two-run blast by Jacob Mejia in the opening frame, the Elks weren't fazed.

Bend countered immediately by getting a run back in the second on Tyler Peterson's two-out RBI knock and squared the game up at two-piece on an Isaiah Burke laser off the pitcher's ankle that squeaked its way through to the outfield for a base hit.

Reid Madariaga rolled through Bellingham's order, preventing the Bells from scoring for five consecutive frames until his command began to taper.

Bellingham capitalized on Madariaga's lone pair of walks with a couple of runs to go up by two once again.

Even for the late noise of the Bells, the Elks, just as they had before, silenced Joe Martin Field on a three-run rally in the eighth.

After loading the bases full to begin the inning, Alejandro Cazorla recorded an RBI fielder's choice, which set up Isaiah Burke's second game-tying single.

But Bend didn't come this far just to come this far.

With two outs and runners on the corners, Josh Wakefield went the opposite way and plopped an RBI knock into left that put Bend on top for the first time.

The Elks ensured they left no doubt by forcing a Mejia throwing error to give comfort to Xavier Richards, who, in pure "X-factor" fashion, shunned the Bells bats to put Bend across the finish line victorious at the end of its 14-hour marathon day.

The Elks will get some much needed rest before running it back against Bellingham Wednesday in hopes of securing a massive road series win.

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