The Black Bears play the Knights on back-to-back weekends. This time, the duel is at home at David Story Field. Friday and Saturday at 6:35pm and the final game of the series against Corvallis is on Sunday at 1:05pm.
The Knights lead the season series two games to one. In game 1 last Friday, the Knights stopped the Bears 4 game win streak with a 5-1 win.
The next game, Cowlitz snapped Corvallis’ 6 game win streak and won 7-3. Jaron DeBerry (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after a solid 5 innings pitched. The offense had timely hitting that included 3 consecutive RBI singles from McCollum, Larson and Jay.
In a very close rubber match, the Knights edged the Black Bears 3-2. Grant Jay had a 2-run, 2-out RBI single, but that was the only scoring for Cowlitz in the game as they fell just one run short of potentially forcing extra innings.
The Black Bears just finished the second series against Springfield. In game 1, the Black Bears pitching was unbelievable. It was the second shut-out win for Cowlitz this season. Carter Gaston (4-0) leads the league in wins and is tied for second in earned run average (1.50). He tossed 5 scoreless giving up just two hits. The pen started right where Gaston left off. Two no-hit innings from Will Woodward. Lyndon Glidewell (Orange Coast College) in his season debut, threw a scoreless frame and Jack Meek closed the door on the Drifters to secure the shut-out in the 9th. The offense scored 8 runs to take a commanding game 1 win 8-0.
On Independence Day, the Drifters took game 2 (4-2). The Black Bears were trailing 4-0 after the 4th inning and weren’t able to mount a comeback win. The Bears left the bases loaded in one inning and 11 guys on base throughout the game.
In the final game of the series, it was all about pitching. Kai Francis allowed two hits in the first inning and then didn’t allow another base runner. Francis threw 6 scoreless and was hoping for some support from his offense. In the bottom of the 6th, Ethan Man delivered a two-out RBI single that gave the Bears a 1-0 lead. Matt Nelson (Orange Coast College) slammed the door as Springfield threatened to tie the game in ninth. Nelson struck out the final two batters of the game while stranding the runners at the corners to pick up his second save of the season. Cowlitz held on in the pitchers duel for their third shut-out win of the season and back-to-back series wins at home.
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