Moses Lake splits with Richland

Chad Hunter knows how to help himself out.

In game one against the Richland Bombers baseball team, Hunter smacked a two-run blast over the center field wall for Moses Lake. He then proceeded to pitch a three-hitter against the No. 6 team in the state.

"Chad has thrown three games in a row without giving up an earned run," Moses Lake head coach Ryan Kies said. "He has really got command of all three pitchers, can hold runners and is tough to beat."

Hunter finished the seventh inning by striking out the side as Moses Lake went on to win 4-0. Richland awoke at the plate in the second game, defeating Moses Lake 11-2 and getting help from Jayson Miller on the mound.

Miller pitched four innings, allowing two hits in his appearance, before Kyle Conley took over in fifth to give up two runs on two hits in three innings.

"Miller has lost three games in his high school career and is tough to beat when he gets those runs behind him," Kies added.

In the first game, Hunter's blast to center field was all the insurance Moses Lake needed until Chase Sidwell came through in the third with a double to right field to score Kyle Wilmot and Brad Tracy to take a 4-0 lead.

Hunter remained in cruise control for the remainder of the game, then striking out the side in the seventh to pick up the win for Moses Lake.

Derek Shoemaker came in to pitch game two for the Chiefs and after a strong first inning, started to get rattled in the second. Tyler Cheney and Nick Cejka hit back-to-back RBI doubles for the Bombers to put Richland up 2-0.

Richland didn't let up with two runs in the second and six runs in the fourth.

Moses Lake put two runs on the board in the fifth to close the gap to 10-2, but could not catch up to the Bombers the rest of the game.

"We had bases loaded with one out and with Miller, you have to take advantage of that," Kies said. "We had other chances late and if we were only down six, we could have made a run at it."