In the first shutout of the season the Bellingham Bells beat the Ridgefield Raptors 4-0, June 8, at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash.

It was a complete effort from the Bells pitching and offense that got the job done to secure a series victory over the Raptors. Game three of the three-game series is tomorrow at 1:35 p.m.

Starting pitcher Sheldon Egger grabbed his first win of the season in five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed with no walks. He was relieved by Eli Knowlton and Sax Matson who all contributed to the shutout win.

The Bells scoring came from doubles by Jacob Mejia and player of the game, Nate Kirkpatrick, who drove in Mejia from second base in the first inning. 

In the third inning, Charlie Bates walked and stole second. Bates took third base on a wild pitch and advanced home on a fielder’s choice from Mejia to give the Bells a 2-0 lead. Bates in his Bells debut went 1 for 3 with a walk, single and a run.

Two more runs came across in the fifth inning when Mejia singled and Kirkpatrick doubled. With Mejia at third and Kirkpatrick at second, a wild pitch from Dillon Kirksey allowed Mejia to score. A missed throw from catcher Luke Iverson trying to throw out Mejia at home allowed Kirkpatrick to score from second on a close tag at the plate.

The score of 4-0 would hold as the reliever Knowlton pitched three innings with five strikeouts and zero runs against him despite walking four. Knowlton only allowed one hit and struck out the final three batters he faced in the eighth.

The final reliever Sax Matson would sit down the Raptors 1-2-3 in the ninth in his season debut. Matson secured the 4-0 win and the Bells improved to 5-3 on the season.

Kirkpatrick led the way going 2 for 4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. Mejia also went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

The Bells look to sweep the Ridgefield Raptors tomorrow at 1:35 p.m. Following Sunday’s game the Bells hit the road against the Wenatchee AppleSox and Kelowna Falcons. The next home series is against the Kamloops NorthPaws, June 18-20.

You can get your tickets at bellstickets.com or listen to every home game on the Bells Mixlr channel and watch every game on the WCL’s streaming site.

Tonight’s game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.