Ephrata splits doubleheader with Prosser
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers' Austin Chamberlain and Eric Tinnell each got three hits to lift their team to a 7-3 victory in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Friday versus the visiting Prosser Mustangs.
"We just hit the ball a lot better in the second game," Ephrata baseball coach Jason Laugen said.
The Tigers suffered a 6-4 loss in the first game at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium, hitting the ball hard, but directly at the Mustangs' defense, Laugen said. Ephrata ended the game with six hits and no errors.
The Tigers (3-4) had trouble adjusting to the slow speed of Prosser's left-handed pitcher Liam O'Brien, Laugen said.
"We hit harder throwing pitchers better," the coach said.
Meanwhile, nearly every time the Mustangs (3-4) made contact in the first game, they got a hit, finishing with eight. Prosser committed three errors.
Left-handed pitcher Tyler Lesko, for Ephrata, threw for a complete game, striking out eight.
"(Prosser) capitalized on their opportunities, finding holes in our defense," Laugen said. "Really there wasn't a whole lot more that we could've done differently, offensively or defensively."
During the second game, the Tigers' luck changed as they benefited from three Prosser errors to score three runs in both the first and third innings.
Tinnell ripped a shot to center field in the first inning, striking the wall and sending leadoff hitter Tyson Hubbard home for the first run of game two.
A bunt single laid down by Chamberlain followed by a ground ball from shortstop Derrick Webb brought Tinnell home for the second run.
Chamberlain scored the final run of the inning after the Prosser first baseman's glove was torn on a throw from the infield, following a ground ball off the bat of Ephrata catcher Kory Frank.
The Tigers profited from some sloppy Mustangs' defense in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ephrata center fielder Ryan Burck drew a walk after right fielder Brett Robinson's sharply hit line drive was caught by a diving defender.
Hubbard connected on a deep fly to center field, the ball was dropped, sending Burck to third base and a hustling Hubbard to second. Burck scored after a pitch got away from the Prosser catcher.
Tinnell singled to right-center, scoring Hubbard. Tinnell came home for the third run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Chamberlain.
The Tigers ended up with seven hits to the Mustangs' six in the late game.
Starting left-handed pitcher, Travis Ruffin, picked up a complete-game victory for the Tigers. Ruffin struck out three of the Mustangs' batters.
The Tigers are off until April 7, when they host Toppenish for a doubleheader.