AppleSox Win Back-And-Forth Series-Opener vs Bend
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The Wenatchee AppleSox scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Bend Elks, 5-4, on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.
Jackson Van De Brake drew a two-out bases-loaded walk to drive in the game-winning run and give the AppleSox the series-opening victory.
Michael O’Hara and Zach Toglia also starred in their AppleSox debuts. O’Hara went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Toglia was 2-for-3 with a walk.
Tyler Chipman (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after throwing a scoreless eighth inning and Chase Grillo got his first save with a clean ninth. Bend loaded up the bases in the top of the ninth but Grillo got a strikeout to end the evening.
The Elks collected two extra-base hits in the first inning to get on the board first but the AppleSox would score three runs over the next two innings. An error and a double in the bottom of the first put runners at second and third and Luc Stuka evened the game up with a ground out. O’Hara and Dakota Duffalo picked up RBI singles the next inning to give the Sox a brief lead.
The back-and-forth ballgame continued in the top of the third when Bend tied it up on a two-out 2-RBI double. That would not faze the AppleSox as O’Hara recorded his second RBI single of the game in as many innings to make it 4-3.
That remained the score until Bend cashed in with a two-out RBI single in the sixth. All four of their runs on Friday night came with two outs.
The ninth inning was a bit tense after the AppleSox took the lead. With runs at first and third, Grillo fielded a push bunt to the right side and flipped home to catcher Collin Villegas, making his AppleSox debut as a defensive replacement that inning. Villegas was knocked over by Elks runner Chase Engelhard but hung onto the ball to record the out. The two exchanged words and the benches cleared as Engelhard was ejected.
The AppleSox go for their third consecutive series victory on Saturday night against the Elks. It’s College Night at the ballpark as fans are encouraged to wear apparel from their favorite school. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at applesox.com/tickets.
Listen to postgame interviews with Assistant Coach Wyatt McKnight as well as Grillo and Villegas below.
