Bellingham rallies late to stop Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake shortstop Chris Casazza hit his West Coast League-leading fifth home run in the bottom of the sixth but the Bellingham Bells rallied late to take the game 14-7 and the series two games to one.

Casazza’s blast in the sixth carried through the desert night before falling over the fence in center field. Casazza’s game-changing home run put the Pirates ahead 7-6 after Moses Lake fell behind 6-4 in the fifth.

The Pirates jumped on the Bells early, scoring single runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead.

Bellingham would respond in the top of the fourth inning, scoring five runs to take a 5-2 lead over the Pirates.

The Bells added another in the top of the fifth before Moses Lake came roaring back.

Casazza led off the fifth inning with a hard-hit double into the left-center field gap to put the lead off runner on base for the Pirates.

With a runner on second and no outs, Moses Lake third baseman Nick Fuoco stepped to the plate for the Pirates. Fuoco connected on a fastball from Bellingham relief pitcher Jordan Stern and drove the pitch over the left field fence and the Pirates pulled within 6-4 of the Bells.

Moses Lake relief pitcher Miles Scribner kept the Bells off of the scoreboard in the top of the sixth before the Pirates went back to work in the bottom of the inning.

Moses Lake designated hitter Brady McGuire singled with one out for the Pirates. Catcher Peter Estes singled with two outs to move McGuire to second before Casazza stepped to the plate.

Casazza connected on a two-strike fastball on the inner half of the plate to put the Pirates on top 7-6.

Moses Lake looked poised to take their second series of the season Sunday night, but errors cost the Pirates late.

The Pirates committed five errors during the last two innings and the Bells scored four in the eighth and four in the ninth to take a commanding 14-7 lead over Moses Lake.

The Pirates were unable to mount another comeback and the Bells took the game and the series from Moses Lake.

Moses Lake fell to 4-24 following Sunday night’s loss.

The Pirates have Monday and Tuesday off before returning to the diamond Wednesday night when the host the visiting Spokane RiverHawks in a one-game series.

The first pitch for Wednesday’s contest is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.