The Kamloops NorthPaws dropped game two against the Nanaimo NightOwls 11-8 on Saturday night at Norbrock Stadium. Nanaimo came out hot in the third, scoring seven runs and making the game look like a runaway. The NorthPaws rallied, however, scoring six runs, including a bases-clearing double by designated hitter Joey Rico. Down 9-6, Kamloops scored a pair of runs to make it a one-run game, but the NightOwls scored two runs in the top half to secure the victory.
“I think our bats, as well as our bullpen, did a really good job holding it down and making it a game,” said Head Coach Riley Jepson.
The game was moving at a quick pace until the NightOwls came to the plate in the third. Two singles and an error made it 1-0; they followed that up with a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0. The inning would continue as Nanaimo had two on with one out. Two doubled scored four more runs as the NightOwls exploded for seven runs.
With the game on the verge of getting out of hand, Kamloops rallied. Three straight singles and a walk put the first run on the board. First baseman Jared Hall singled, driving in their second run. Designated hitter Joey Rico was at the plate with the bases loaded and sent a double off the wall in right field, clearing the bases, making it 7-5. Second baseman Tanner Hornback singled, driving in Rico for the sixth run of the bottom half.
“I think we started to string together good at-bats and hit balls hard; we gave ourselves a good chance to do something,” said Jepson
The game would revert to a more attainable pace in the middle third with the NightOwls taking a 9-6 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. Center fielder Ethan Kodama hit a sacrifice ground ball, making it 9-7. In the seventh, Kamloops got back within one as Rico hit his fifth homerun of the summer over the right field wall.
“It’s unfortunate what happened in the third, but our bullpen did a great job at limiting the damage and giving us a chance,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.
Up one run, Nanaimo put together a good inning. A lead-off double and a sacrifice bunt put a runner on third. He would later be driven in with a single. With two outs, Nanaimo hit a ball to deep center field, Kodama lost it in the lights and was unable to make the play as the second run crossed home plate, making it 11-8.
That’s how the game would finish, as the NorthPaws couldn’t mount a miraculous comeback, leaving the series even. The NorthPaws will look to take the rubber match on Sunday and finish the week 4-2. Sunday’s first pitch is at 12:05.
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