Mavs suffer home loss after late rally by Wenatchee

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (6-3) suffered a 3-2 loss to the Wenatchee Panthers on Tuesday. Despite a competitive game, the Mavericks made too many errors, Head Coach Donnie Lindgren said.  

“I thought our pitchers threw well enough to win,” Lindgren said. “And we talked about it last week and yesterday, about how we can only give them three outs an inning, instead of giving them four or five outs an inning. That's what cost us.” 

The Mavericks started strong, taking a 2-0 lead after the first two innings. Defense was the name of this game, as Moses Lake held Wenatchee scoreless through the first four innings. However, the Panthers got home twice in the top of the fifth and once in the sixth to claim the lead. Despite their best efforts, the Mavericks could not get home the rest of the game and Wenatchee sealed the win.

“We had them in a situation where, if we just make the routine play, we're out of an inning, and unfortunately, we didn't do it this time. We'll come back; we'll be all right. These kids are confident and one run game that's on me, so I'll take the loss on that one,” Lindgren said.  

Jacoby Mugnos and Caden Barney got home for the Mavericks in the first two innings to give them the initial lead. Jonathan Purcell, Maddox Hurrud, Jacoby Fulbright and Nolan Decubber managed to get on base throughout the game. Noah Hernandez recorded a stolen base, as well.  

Dagen Enquist and Mugnos split the pitching duties Tuesday. Enguist started and pitched through five innings, striking out three Wenatchee batters. Mugnos pitched two innings, striking out one batter.  

The Mavs never stopped battling to the end. In a do or die situation on defense, they grounded a line drive to tag out two Panthers to get to three outs, giving them one last chance to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. Despite their resilience, the errors mounted to that point were too much to overcome.  

Though a tough loss, Lindgren is confident his team will bounce back for their doubleheader matchup at Wenatchee on Friday, starting at 4 p.m. 

“I just think we just have to focus every pitch,” Lindgren said. “I think we kind of lost our focus. It happens and baseball is a hard game. You get a ball hit at you, sometimes it's harder to read than a ball to your left or right, and so you make a mistake. It kind of costs us. But I'm proud of these guys. They fought till the very last out, and unfortunately, we came up little short this game.” 

BOX SCORE: 

WNCH: 0-0-0-0-2-1-0: 3 

MLHS: 1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0: 2

    Jonathan ‘JP’ Purcell (24) takes off after hitting the ball into the outfield. Purcell recorded two hits for the Mavericks Tuesday.
  

    Dagen Enquist (2) steps into his throw as he pitches for the Mavericks in their game against the Wenatchee Panthers Tuesday.
  

    Jacoby Fulbright (21) steps into his swing while at bat for the Mavericks Tuesday.