The Wenatchee AppleSox scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to draw within a run of tying the game but would ultimately fall to the Northwest Star Academy Nighthawks, 7-6, on Wednesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, Enzo Apodaca hit a single to left field to plate two runs. As Rece Stapp scored the second run and the throw from left field came home, Ben Leid tried to advance all the way to third from first. Nighthawks catcher Travis Helm fired to third to try to gun down Leid but missed his target and another run scored.

That effort put the AppleSox within a run after allowing two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth. The AppleSox and the Nighthawks had been tied 3-3 until the Northwest Star Academy broke through in the seventh. The AppleSox would go on to put the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth, but stranded both of them.

Wednesday marked the second straight game that the AppleSox scored first, but it did not matter in either game. In fact, the AppleSox’ first three runs all scored without any base hits in those innings for the second straight night.

Gauge Lockhart started for Wenatchee and impressed in his brief outing. He retired all six hitters he faced and struck out four of them. Hunter Salinas tossed two scoreless innings, including working out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Jasper Nelson fired a scoreless ninth to keep the AppleSox in striking range.

The AppleSox are off Thursday before traveling to Portland to face the Pickles this weekend. The series gets started on Friday night as Gavin Gorrell gets the ball for the 7:05 p.m. start.

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