Bator bat big for Walleyes in split
Zane Bator belts a double to the fence during the Walleyes first game loss to Walla Walla Saturday. Bator hit 4 of 4, including a two run homer over the left field fence in the first game of the doubleheader. The Walleyes lost first game 3-5 and won the second 8-0.<br>Pam Robel/Columbia Basin Herald
Moses Lake gets some power in double-header with Walla Walla
By Pam Robel
Herald staff writer
MOSES LAKE — Zane Bator began his afternoon on the mound for the Walleyes and struggled to settle in in the top of the first. He threw six hits, walked one and hit a batter. Walla Walla was able to get three men over the plate to make the score 3-0.
But Bator's bat answered for his arm.
In the bottom of the first, with two outs and one man on, Bator saw a pitch he liked. He deposited it over the fence, and the Walleyes ended the inning down one.
Moses Lake took the field in the top of the second and made short work of Walla Walla. The first batter of the inning for the Bruins, Arnett, was hit by a pitch and sent to first. When his teammate Ness swung a single, Arnett was tagged out at second. The final batter for Walla Walla hit a fly ball that was fielded and the Walleyes turned a double play to end the inning.
Adrian Villa was able to hit a double to send Sanchez home in the bottom of the second to tie the game 3-3.
Walla Walla would put two more runs on the board, and they would be the last scored in the game. The Bruins' Litzenberger was brought home on a squeeze play and then Arnett came home on an RBI single from Klingenberg.
The final score in the first game was 5-3 Walla Walla.
The Walleyes switched up their line-up in the second game with Villa on the mound, Correa behind the plate, Bator at third and Fredrickson, the catcher in the first game, at first.
Villa came out to strike out the first three batters Walla Walla had to offer, setting the tone for the entire game.
In the bottom of the first, Redford singled to get on base and was brought in by Hitchcock. Later in that inning Collins would hit a single and bring the runners on first and third home. The inning ended with Moses Lake up 3-0.
The Walleyes would score again in the bottom of the second. Villa hit a double to get on base, advanced to third on a bunt single from Redford and was brought in on a hit from Correa. Redford would be driven across the plate on a hit from Bator. The dust settled with the Walleyes up 5-0.
The final three runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Correa came to the plate with two men on and one out and belted a triple to bring Villa and Redford home. Hitchcock was the next hitter for the Walleyes, and while he struck out, Correa was able to capitalize on a passed ball to make the score 8-0.