Elks Drop Back and Forth Battle to Yakima Valley

Vince Genna Stadium drew 5,740 fans over the past two games. (Andrew Green)

Bend, OR. - In a game that saw four different lead changes, the Bend Elks came out on the wrong end of a 9-6 back-and-forth tussle with the Yakima Valley Pippins.

Bend brought back its poor old habit of free passes, walking 11 batters while beaming another three for a total of 14 free tickets. The lack of consistency on the mound was evident from the start, with Elks starting pitcher Ryan Rembisz who walked a season-worst six batters, five of which came in the opening frame. Bend's bullpen would compile more free opportunities and put themselves in sticky situations that the Pippins were able to capitalize on.

The Elks offense fought to make up for the pitching staff's miscues scoring its first three runs on four two-out hits from Luca Dipaolo, Ruben Cedillo, Beau Sylvester, and Zach Toglia. Cedillo delivered the biggest knock of the night in the fifth with a two-run 375-foot blast over the left field wall to give the Elks the 5-4 lead. Bend added its sixth and final run in the eighth on a throwing error by Yakima third baseman Chris Clement to bring Zach Toglia across and make it a one-run ball game going into the final frame.

Yet, Bend's back end couldn't hold up as Zach Romero and Jackson Peters both gave up a run in the top of the ninth to put the Elks in a difficult three-run hole. Bend managed to work the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the frame and had the winning run at the plate. Nevertheless, the rallying cry would fall short on a groundout to third by Toglia.

Zack Blaszak accounted for three of the Pippins' five hits and racked up three RBI. Cedillo and Sylvester combined for four of the Elks' eight hits. Ty Schwaiger (0-2) took the loss surrendering three runs, two earned, and two walks without posting an out in the seventh.

Bend (13-16,10-15) and Yakima Valley (12-18, 11-17) are now even in the season series at two games apiece. The tiebreaker game will be on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Vince Genna Stadium.