Bend’s bats breakthrough in Game 1 win over Walla Walla

Josh Wakefield led the Elks offensive return with three hits. (Sage Young)

Walla Walla, WA - Bend's sticks snapped back into shape Tuesday with a complete 7-5 victory at Walla Walla, full of top-to-bottom contributions from players throughout the lineup.

The Elks (8-7, 8-7), who scored just five runs across their weekend series against Portland, flipped the switch after a day off, accumulating the same total in just two innings vs. the Sweets. 

After Walla Walla (4-11, 4-11) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first, Bend responded with seven unanswered runs over the middle four innings to snag the series-opening victory. 

The Elks's largest rally came in the third when Bend produced back-to-back RBI singles by Josh Wakefield and Easton Talt, followed by an Easton Amundson sacrifice fly that ultimately gave the Elks the lead they would not relinquish. 

Wakefield and Talt would bring two more runs across for Bend in the fourth on an RBI triple and one-run single. Wakefield now leads the West Coast League with two three-baggers while Talt, who started the summer 0 for six, got back-to-back RBI knocks to end his slow start to the summer.  

The Elks tacked on a tally in each of the next two frames on Ty Johnsen and Amundson's one-run base hits. 

Seven of the nine Bend batters recorded a hit, and four had an RBI.

But the Elks didn't just receive a variety of contributions at the plate, they also had many players pitch in on the mound.

Bend used four different arms through the first four frames, with Wakefield starting things off in his first appearance on the bump this summer. The future GCU lope gave up a two-run double to Andrew Graham but responded with resilience, striking out the final two batters he faced.

The Elks then turned the ball over to hometown kids Finn Edwards and Simon Lemke, who combined to retire the all six batters they faced.

Ethan Lay stranded two runners in scoring position in his lone clean frame before turning the ball over to Reid Madariaga, who tossed three more scoreless innings.   

Madariaga got a chance at the eighth, but things spiraled as the Sweets put up a three spot on a Stephen Hom RBI single and two-run homer by Kolby Felix.

Luckily for the Elks, Xavier Richards closed it down, retiring all six batters he faced to complete the save and Game 1 win.

All told, the Elks used six different hurlers and struck out nine Sweets.

Bend will look to win the season series Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Borleske Stadium.

Box Score