Bend steamrolls Springfield to win season series
Free kids Wednesday was full of fun in the stands and on the field. (Sage Young)
Bend, OR - Bend broke the brakes off Springfield 12-3 Wednesday night at Vince Genna Stadium, lighting up the scoreboard with several season highs to secure the season series.
Leading 3-1 entering the sixth inning, the Elks (6-5, 6-5) erupted for eight runs on seven hits to blow away the Drifters. When the dust finally settled on the Bend’s scoring storm, the Elks boasted a season-high 15 hits and 12 runs.
Bend’s eight-run onslaught began with four consecutive base hits, including RBI knocks by Tyler Peterson and Josh Wakefield.
The Elks really began to pull away when Vinnie Salvione forced a throwing error by Drifters shortstop Elijah Maris, allowing two more runs to come across. Bend continued its barrage with three more RBI knocks by Brian Duroff and Evan Saunders and capped off with a Jace Miller two-run double.
Eight of the nine Elks batters recorded at least one hit, and six had multiple knocks.
To complement the Elks electric offense was Bend’s superb pitching which matched its season-high of 10 strikeouts set the night before. U.C. Davis hurler Tyler Wood (1-0) earned the win in his Elks debut, retiring all nine batters he faced, including three via punch out.
Bend will look to redeem itself from its first sweep attempt of the Drifters, in which they fell 2-1 last Sunday, and hope to finally break out the brooms Thursday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Vince Genna Stadium. Get your tickets now!
