The Bellingham Bells began the 2025 season with a 6-3 win over the Nanaimo NightOwls Friday, May 30 at Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo.

Three walks loaded the bases for the Bells with one out in the top of the second inning. Noah Figuered hit an RBI single to score the first run of the game. After a NightOwl pitching change, Gavin Long drove in another run and the Bells took a 2-0 lead.

Nanaimo got its first runs against Bells’ starter Nick Frers on a two-run home run in the fourth inning. In the fifth, the Bells surrendered the lead after a one-run single gave the NightOwls a 3-2 lead.

Devyn Hernandez relieved Frers in the sixth inning, giving Frers a final line of five innings pitched with three hits and walks allowed while striking out four and allowing three earned runs.

In the seventh inning, Cole Murawski and Dominic DeCarlo walked to begin the inning and a wild pitch moved both into scoring positions. With one out, Long was walked and the bases were loaded. Chris Clement hit into a 5-2 fielder’s choice that prevented a run from scoring.

A wild pitch allowed the tying run to score and an error by the NightOwls’ shortstop let two more Bells score. Nate Kirkpatrick hit a hard ground ball that got by Nanaimo’s second baseman for the second error in the inning and gave Bellingham a 6-3 lead.

Hernandez pitched the next two innings scoreless and handed the ball to Tyler Biddinger, who earned the first save of the summer. Hernandez pitched three innings and allowed only one hit while striking out three and earning the win.

Figuered was 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Nico Azpilcueta reached safely three times with a hit and two walks while scoring a run. Noah Cassie and Noah Betanco both drew two walks at the plate as Nanaimo allowed nine free passes to Bellingham.

The Bells will play at 6:35 p.m. tomorrow, May 31 in game two of three against the NightOwls. Ivan Rodriguez is the probable starter for Bellingham with Brady Pavlovsky probable to start for Nanaimo.

Catch the home opener at Joe Martin Field on June 3 when the Bells take on the Kamloops Northpaws to begin a three-game series in Bellingham. Tickets are on sale now at bellstickets.com

This game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.