Elks Get Picking of Pickles in Dominate Series Win
Zach Toglia had two doubles in the Elks’ eight-run rally fest over the Pickles. (Andrew Green)
Portland, OR. - The Bend Elks beat the Portland Pickles in every facet of the game Saturday, resulting in an 8-2 win for the Elks, who secured its third straight series win and first at Walker Stadium since 2019.
Bend's pitching and offense shared the spotlight equally as the Elks' arms tossed eight strikeouts while surrendering just two runs and four hits. Bend's bats raked in multiple runs in the third, fourth, and seventh inning, with the largest being the four-run fourth.The Elks had 12 hits, tripling its total from the night prior.
Robert Orlsoki set the table for how the game would be for Portland, leaving the Pickles hitless through the first five innings, conceding to only two base runners who reached on walks while posting five strikeouts. This freed up the Elks offense of the pressure of playing from behind, causing Bend to bring across two runs in the third on a two-RBI double by Ruben Cedillo, succeeded by a four-run fourth that included a string of four straight RBI knocks from Justin Tsukada, Elijah Jackson, Kody Wanatabe, and Tyler Peterson. Bend added its two final runs of support in the eighth, sparked by back-to-back doubles from Beau Sylvester and Toglia. Plus, another Tsukada RBI single.
The Elks had four players record multi-hit games and had four extra-base hits. Tsukada led the charge with three hits and two RBI, while Toglia had two of Bend's four doubles.
Although Orloski gave up the no-hitter and shut out of Portland in the sixth, with Portland scoring two runs on three hits. Yet, that would be the peak of excitement for Pickles fans as the Bend bullpen provided excellent relief, with Brynner Waiolama and Jackson Bolander combining for one hit allowed with no walks and three strikeouts across the final three frames.
Bend (17-16, 14-15) will look to complete the series sweep on the road against Portland (21-14, 16-10) and get back to .500 for the first time in over two weeks. The first pitch Sunday from Walker Stadium is at 6:05 p.m.
