Elks Steamroll Nighthawks 20-0 to Secure Sweep

The Elks scored a season-high 20 runs on 18 hits in a crushing win over the NW Star Nighthawks. (Andrew Green)

Bend, OR. - The Bend Elks put together a hitting clinic Wednesday night at Vince Genna Stadium, posting season bests in hits and runs en route to a 20-0 victory in the finale against Northwest Star Nighthawks.

For an Elks ballclub that had only amassed a total of five runs over the final four innings of games entering the matchup, Bend certainly put that narrative to an end, scoring 17 of its 20 runs across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. The high-scoring performance marks the third game this season in which the Elks have scored 17 or more runs.

The Elks bats racked up a season-high 18 hits, with six players recording multi-hit games and ten accounting for at least one RBI. Maddox Malony and Brennan Davis led the way as both went a perfect 3-3 with 3 RBI on the night. Ty Silva also had a three-hit night, including two doubles. Avery Ortiz finished with three RBI and started the spark that lit the bonfire to come being responsible for the Elks' first three runs of the game before the late-game madness.

In the shadows of the offense, Bend's pitching was equally spectacular, limiting the Nighthawks to just one hit while striking out a season-high ten batters in the shutout win. The Elks staff would've had a combined no-hitter had it not been for a dinky cue ball along the third base line from Carlos Beltron.

Bend (6-5) will look to carry its success into its road series against the six-time defending West Coast League Champion Corvallis Knights, who welcome the Elks on its home opening weekend. The duel gets underway Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Goss Stadium.