Pirates roll over RiverHawks

SPOKANE, Wash. — Zane Bator and Chris Casazza hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth to propel the Pirates to the 9-0 victory over the Spokane RiverHawks.

Moses Lake improved to 7-31 overall following the win at Spokane and the Pirates took their first series on a three-stop, nine-game road trip.

Moses Lake head coach Steve Keller said his three (Bator) and four (Casazza) hitters were exceptional at the plate, particularly in the sixth.

“Zane and Casazza hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth,” he said. “Zane crushed his and Chris hit his even farther.”

Both Bator and Casazza had impressive performances at the play Sunday afternoon.

Bator finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate with a home run and a pair of singles for the Pirates and Casazza lit up RiverHawks pitching in the series finale.

The shortstop from Temecula, Calif., went 2-for-3 at the dish with a single and his West Coast League-leading sixth home run of the season. Casazza also drew a walk, was hit by two pitches and stole a pair of bases for the Pirates. Keller said his shortstop was phenomenal Sunday.

“(Chris) had a hell of a day,” he said.

The Pirates jumped on the RiverHawks early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Bator scored on a single up the middle from Moses Lake third baseman Nick Fuoco.

After the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, starting pitcher Brandon Rohde went to work in the bottom.

Rohde was lights-out Sunday for the Pirates, keeping the RiverHawks scoreless while only allowing one hit in six innings of work.

Spokane’s only hit off the University of Washington sophomore came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Spokane’s Cody Reeves singled. Moses Lake’s Miles Scribner came on in relief of Rohde in the seventh to close out the RiverHawks to complete the shutout.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead into the top of the third when Casazza singled with one out. Casazza, who entered the game with three stolen bases on five attempts, then swiped second and third on back-to-back pitches.

With one out and a run on third, Fuoco and first baseman Justin Cooper couldn’t drive him in.

While Moses Lake threatened in the third, they did damage in the fifth. Lead off hitter DC Legg singled to start the inning and Allen followed, putting a pair base runners on with no outs. Casazza was hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases for Fuoco.

Fuoco turned on a 1-2 pitch from Spokane starting pitcher Garrett Luippold, driving the offering over the outfielder’s head to clear the bases.

Moses Lake took a 5-0 advantage into the sixth when Bator and Casazza broke the game open.

Sunday night’s win gave the Pirates their second series victory over the RiverHawks and Keller said it was important.

“It was huge to get the series win,” he said. “Taking two series from Spokane was a thrill. (We) stayed with it, kept it lose. Barring the first inning last night, we out-played them every single pitch.”

Moses Lake took the series opener over Spokane 3-1 before dropping Saturday night’s contest 6-1 after surrendering five first-inning runs.

Following Sunday night’s victory, the Pirates head to Kelowna, British Columbia, to take on the Falcons.

Moses Lake’s series with Kelowna will begin Tuesday night at 7 p.m.