Kamloops – Despite an offensive explosion, the NorthPaws came up short against the Bellingham Bells, losing 11-6. The Bells scored runs in the final six innings, including three in the eighth and ninth, stunning the NorthPaws. Kamloops left 13 runners on base in the loss and didn’t help themselves with five errors in the field, all directly contributing to runs.
The game started off on a positive note for the NorthPaws as Elijah Olaybal doubled, bringing home two runs in the bottom of the first. In the second, a Tanner Mitchell ground ball was enough to score Logan Booth, making it 3-0.
On the mound, Jude Mondello impressed in his first home start. The righty was able to work his way out of jams in the first three innings, but Bellingham finally got to him in the fourth thanks to a pair of sacrifice RBI’s. Mondello went four innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits.
The Bells tied the game at the top of the fifth, but the Paws answered quickly. Brock Grainger started it off with a solo home run, followed by back-to-back doubles from Elijah Olaybal and Ian Huang to put Kamloops back up by two runs.
Bellingham hung around, however. They scored in the sixth and tied the game in the seventh, setting up an exciting finish. Unfortunately, while the Bells got themselves back in the game, the NorthPaws managed to leave the bases loaded in both the third and sixth innings.
In the eighth, a hit by pitch and a one-out single set up a triple that drove in two runs, giving Bellingham their first lead of the game. A sacrifice fly made it three in the inning and gave Bellingham an 8-5 lead.
In the bottom half, Jared singled and eventually made his way to third after advancing on a wild pitch and groundout. Huang was at the plate and shot one down the left field line for his second RBI double of the night. The Paws were unable to cut any further into the fresh Bellingham lead.
In the top of the ninth, the Bells smelled blood. A leadoff walk and two singles later, Bellingham regained their three-run lead. A wild pitch put them up four, and a double steal mixed with a throwing error made it 11-6, putting the game out of reach.
The glaring positive is the 17 hits. Five players had multiple-hit nights, and both Grainger and Hall had three knocks. Grainger has been hot as of late; he hit his third home run in the last five games and has RBI’s in each of his last three starts.
The Paws will battle for the series victory on Sunday afternoon at 12:05. It will be the final home game before a six-game road trip beginning Monday in Edmonton.
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