Falcons sweep Pirates at home

Moses Lake drops three in a row at home

MOSES LAKE - After winning two straight games heading into last week's West Coast Collegiate Baseball League all star game, the Pirates (9-22) have lost three in a row.

Moses Lake hosted the Kelowna Falcons over the weekend and lost all three games.

In the first game of the series, the Pirates jumped ahead to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when first baseman Brock Gates singled to left field to lead off the inning.

After catcher Devin Walker popped out to shortstop, Gates advanced to second base when Falcons pitcher Bryn Card balked.

With one on and one out, Moses Lake shortstop Tyler Heil singled to left field and Gates scored from second.

The Pirates held its 1-0 lead until the Falcons responded in the top of the sixth inning.

Kelowna designated hitter Stephen Hagen led off the sixth with a single to left field. Falcons center fielder Nick Frietas hit a home run to erase the Pirates lead.

Moses Lake could not respond to Frietas' home run and dropped the series opener to the Falcons 2-1.

In the second game of the series, the Pirates held off the Falcons for two innings before Kelowna got on the scoreboard. In the top of the third inning, the Falcons scored two runs on five hits to take a 2-0 lead over the Pirates.

The Pirates responded in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the team scored three runs on two hits.

Moses Lake third baseman Brandon Huerta grounded out to third base to lead off the inning. Center fielder Dane Yelovich walked. Yelovich, the league's stolen base leader was tagged out after trying to steal second base. Pirates left fielder D.C. Legg reached base on an error by the Kelowna third baseman. Legg advanced to second base when right fielder Phillip Parrish singled to left. With runners on first and second, Gates walked to load the bases for the Pirates.

With the bases loaded Moses Lake catcher Devin Walker doubled to right field, scoring three Pirates runs.

Walker was thrown out at third base trying to stretch his double into a triple to end the inning. The Pirates led after six innings 3-2.

The Moses Lake lead was short lived.

Kelowna third baseman Jeff Roth led off the top of the seventh inning with a home run to tie the game 3-3. The Falcons scored two more runs in the inning to take a 5-3 lead. The Pirates failed to respond and lost its second consecutive game to the Falcons.

In the series finale, the Pirates and Falcons played through two scoreless innings before Kelowna took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. The Falcons would score three more runs in to top of the ninth inning to shut out the Pirates 5-0 for the series sweep.

The Pirates are on the road this week, traveling to Bend to take on the Elks in a three-game series. The Pirates return to Larson Playfield Saturday, Aug. 2 for a one-game series with the Wenatchee AppleSox.