WALLA WALLA — The Lefties snapped a four-game losing streak with an outstanding pitching effort from a trio of hurlers and getting clutch runs late to beat the Walla Walla Sweets 5-1 Saturday night.
A trio of Connor Spears Jr. of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Joseph Sinclair of Cochise College (Ariz.) and Kaden Lewis, Edmonds CC, held the Sweets to just four hits. The Lefties had to overcome some wildness as Port Angeles pitchers issued 10 walks. But they also struck out 12, induced three double plays and left Walla Walla stranding nine runners on base.
Spears went the first five innings, giving up four hits and five walks but no runs while striking out six. He picked up the win. Sinclair pitched two hitless innings, walking three and striking out four, and Lewis also pitched two hitless innings, walking two and striking out two.
At the plate, the Lefties struck out 13 times and went scoreless for the first four innings, but broke through in the fifth with three runs to take the lead.
Nathan Chong (Saint Mary’s) started the rally with a leadoff double. Trevor Tishenkel (California) scored Chong with a single and Carson Crawford — Tishenkel’s teammate at Cal — drove in Tishenkel with a double. Crawford was able to come in to score on a groundout by Garrett Lake (Purdue-Fort Wayne).
The Lefties tacked on a run in the sixth and a run in the seventh.
Port Angeles had just eight hits, but put a lot of pressure on the Sweets pitchers with 10 stolen bases.
Takuto Kataoka of Edmonds CC had a great game, going 3 for 5 at the plate and stealing three bases. He added a run and RBI. Kataoka is batting .412 (7 for 17) on the season, leading the Lefties in that category.
Tishenkel went 2 for 4 a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base, while Crawford went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a double, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Chong had a double, a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases.
The Lefties (3-5) played the Sweets Sunday night after press deadline. They have a day off today, then return to home action at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday against the Bellingham Bells.
Port Angeles 5, Walla Walla 1
PA 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 — 5 8 1
WW 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 1 4 2
WP: Spears LP: Craven
Pitching
Port Angeles — Spears 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 6 K; Sinclair 2 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 4 K; Lewis 2 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K.
Walla Walla — Craven 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 K; Hepp 2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 2 K; Harson 0.2 IP, 3 BB, 2 K; Grimm 1.1 IP H, 3 K.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Kataoka 3-5, R, RBI, 3 SB; Tishenkel 2-4, R, RBI, SB; Crawford 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB; Chong 1-4, 2B, R, 2 SB; Lake 0-4, RBI.
Walla Walla — Ayers 1-4, R, Ryberg 1-4; Wetterau 1-4, Cirillo 1-4, Myro 0-0, 4 BB.
