The Black Bears will play Bend at home for the final regular season series. Cowlitz scored 28 runs in the last series against the Elks and won the series 2-1. The Black Bears will be looking to win another series and improve on their fantastic home record. In the last 15 home games, the Black Bears have gone 11-4.
In game one in Yakima, the Black Bears sent all nine guys to the plate and scored four runs in the opening frame. The first pitch of the game, Titialii went yard and gave the Bears a very quick lead. Later in the inning Seth Stro and Nick Miller hit RBI singles. The Bears scored two more runs in the 5th and two in the 6th with Titialii’s second home run of the game. In the 7th inning Nick Miller drove in his second run of the game with a double. In the 9th, Ian Riley hit his third homer of the season and the Black Bears cruised to a game one win, 12-7. With the win the Black Bears set a new franchise record in wins (29-20) and stolen bases (89).
In game two, they were looking to improve on their season high, seven straight wins. Cowlitz was also looking to win 10 out of the last 11 series and their 9th in a row! During this stretch, the Bears have gone 23-9 that has included two sweeps. Cowlitz sent eight men to the plate in the 1st and scored three runs. They matched that three run total in the 2nd inning as well. It was all Black Bears in game two. Final score was 8-2.
Game 3 will be played Thursday night before the Black Bears head back to Longview to finish the regular season at home against the Elks.
The Elks are coming off a series vs the Drifters. Bend won game one, 7-5 in 14 innings. It was tied 5-5 from the 5th inning all the way through the 13th. Bend won on a walk-off homerun from Luca Dipaolo in the bottom of the 14th. Game two the Drifters took 6-4 in Bend.
It is coming down to the wire to see who will be what seed going into the 2023 West Coast League playoffs. Only three more home games remain. Come cheer on YOUR hometown Black Bears! For more information about upcoming games and stats, follow us on social media: Twitter (@CowlitzBBears), Facebook and Instagram (@cowlitzblackbears).