Moses Lake rallies to take two

KENNEWICK — Finally the Moses Lake Chiefs softball team got to have double the fun.

The Chiefs used a late-inning, game two rally, to secure a 7-2, 6-4 sweep of hosts Kennewick last night in Big 9 Cascade Division action and secure a district playoff spot.

Moses Lake (10-6, 7-3) rallied from a 4-0 first inning deficit in the nightcap and scored two runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the sweep.

“Those were two huge runs,” Moses Lake coach Dave Gregory said. “It was huge and now we’re in the playoffs for sure. It was great  since we weren’t ready for that first inning and we chipped away. It’s crazy how our kids never give up.”

The winning rally started when Marina Rubio singled and was sacrificed over to second by Jessica McIntyre.

Tasha Gentry then capped off her 3-for-4 game with a single to bring in Rubio and Gentry would be brought in when Bailey Ritchie singled to give Moses Lake a 6-4 lead.

Moses Lake scored one run in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings, to set up the dramatic rally.

Karly Stoltman pitched a complete game for the win, striking out two while allowing only two earned runs.

The opener wasn’t as intense as they broke open a close game with a four-run sixth inning.

Gentry went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while Candace Vela went 2-for-3 and Rubio went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Six other batters recorded at least one hit.

Stoltman pitched all seven innings for the win and struck out five while allowing no earned runs.

“We can beat anybody,” Gregory said. “It’s just a matter of putting some games together and to keep playing like we are.”

Moses Lake is off until next Tuesday when they host Sunnyside on Senior Night starting at 4 p.m.