Wenatchee Turns Game Upside Down to Snap Elks Win Streak

The Elks went from having a five run lead to losing by five in a brutal turnaround in game one against the Wenatchee AppleSox. (Andrew Green)

Wenatchee, WA. - The Bend Elks went from leading by five to trailing by five in a matter of just two innings as the Wenatchee AppleSox scored ten unanswered runs to earn the 11-6 win in the series opener and snap the Elks' four-game win streak.

After the AppleSox got a solo shot from Carson Ohland to end the third, the Elks countered with a home run of their own by Trey Nelson to lead off the fourth, igniting a five-run rally. Bend tacked on another run when Luca Dipaolo forced an error to bring Tyler Peterson across and make it a 6-1 advantage for Bend. Little did the Elks know the headache they would face over the next two innings.

The Elks infield, which has been so stellar all season, collapsed, committing three errors in the inning to allow the AppleSox to capitalize with seven hits that equaled out to an eight-run inning. Wenatchee added two more runs on RBI hits the next frame, and just like that, the AppleSox had quickly turned the tables of the game.

The game fell on behalf of the defense. As of the eight runs given up by Jackson Bolander (0-1), only two of them were earned. The Elks got a great start from Eric Valdez, who went four innings, surrendering just two hits and two walks with three strikeouts retiring 12 of the 16 Elks he faced.

Although the Bend offense found life against the early part of the AppleSox rotation, the Elks couldn't figure out Jadon Williamson, who struck out eight batters and retired 12 of the 16 batters he faced. The Elks struck out a season-high 16 times against the AppleSox pitching staff. Jake Hoskins was the only Bend batter with multiple hits extending his hit streak to five games with ten hits over that span.

Bend (21-20, 18-19) hopes to bounce back and notch the series even with Wenatchee (29-12, 26-11) Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.