The Bellingham Bells improved to 2-0 to begin the season with a 5-4 win against the Nanaimo NightOwls Saturday, May 31 at Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo. The two teams finish their three-game series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.

Offense came early as the Bells loaded the bases in the first inning after two walks and a hit. A passed ball allowed Gavin Long to sprint home and score the first run of the game. After another walk reloaded the bases, Noah Betanco walked to double the Bells lead.

Ivan Rodriguez got the start for Bellingham and in the second inning Nanaimo had a two-out rally to plate three runs after Owen Wessel hit a bases-clearing double. Rodriguez had given up two hits and a hit by pitch to load the bases.

In the third, Noah Cassie hit a double that pushed Nate Kirkpatrick to third, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. Betanco then picked up another RBI with a groundout and the game was tied, 3-3.

Rodriguez exited his start in the fourth inning after allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out four. Preston Watkins relieved him in his debut for the Bells.

Dominic DeCarlo led off the fourth inning with a base knock and Noah Figuered doubled to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Chris Clement grounded out to short and the Bells took a 4-3 lead.

Cassie reached on a one-out error in the fifth and Betanco singled to put Cassie into scoring position. A passed ball advanced both runners and Cole Murawski hit into another RBI groundout for Bellingham, which gave the Bells a 5-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tyler Arnold took a base hit to deep left field with a runner on first. The relay from DeCarlo was wide, but Figuered was able to relay a throw home and Betanco made a diving tag to keep the run from scoring.

Jackson Dial relieved Watkins in the sixth inning. Watkins finished his two-inning appearance with two strikeouts to two hits and one walk allowed. Watkins earned the win after the bullpen kept the NightOwls from regaining a lead.

Dial pitched a scoreless sixth and Jared Hardie entered for the seventh. Hardie allowed an unearned run after the leadoff batter, who reached on an error by Kirkpatrick, was later sent home on a two-out double by Nanaimo.

Loreto Siniscalchi took the mound for the eighth and saw the tying run stand 90 feet away from home after allowing a leadoff single and advancing the runner on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Siniscalchi was able to escape the jam after Betanco made a clutch grab in foul territory and Kirkpatrick ended the inning on a diving grab at third.

Siniscalchi returned for the ninth and finished the two-inning save that improved the Bells to 2-0 on the season. The Bells will look to sweep the NightOwls tomorrow in the matinee matchup to finish the three-game series.

Betanco led Bellingham with a 1-for-3 performance at the plate with a walk and two RBIs while having numerous defensive plays that saved runs. Clement and Murawski had one RBI and hit each with Clement scoring a run. As a team Bellingham was outhit with six to Nanaimo’s nine.

Tomorrow’s probable starter is Dylan Huntsman for Bellingham and Ricardo Villegas for Nanaimo. The Bells home opener is Tuesday, June 3 when the Bells take on the Kamloops NorthPaws at 6:35 p.m.

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