Spuds fall late in their opening game in Post Falls, 15-13

by CASEY MCCARTHY
Staff Writer | June 30, 2020 11:46 PM

POST FALLS, Idaho — In their opening game of the summer, the Spuds fell late against host Post Falls, 15-13.

The Spuds struck early in the game, leading by a pair of runs after three innings. Post Falls would take its first lead in the bottom of the fourth, pulling ahead 3-2. The Spuds responded with three runs of their own in the top of the next inning to pull back ahead.

A seven-run barrage in the top of the seventh inning helped the Spuds pull away from the home team a bit, taking a 13-3 lead into the bottom of the inning. Post Falls would respond with four runs in the seventh and an eight-run outpouring in the eighth inning to seal the comeback win late.

Some errors might be expected in the first game for most players since last spring, or summer. Both teams finished with six apiece, while the Spuds were slightly out-hit, 10-9 in favor of Post Falls.

Kamden Kuykendall had a big game from the plate for Central Washington, including a home run in the fifth inning. Kuykendall powered in a team-high six RBIs in the win, finishing 2-4 from the plate. Three other Spuds players finished with multiple hits in the summer-opening defeat.

Five players took the mound for the Spuds on Tuesday evening in Post Falls, combining for eight strikeouts while surrendering 15 runs on 10 hits. Royce Valdez got the start for the Spuds, pitching three innings with a team-leading three strikeouts. Valdez allowed no runs on just two hits.

Next up for the Spuds on the schedule is a double-header in Post Falls on Thursday, facing off against WA Rush at 10:15 a.m. before taking on Hanford Flames at 4:45 p.m.